Public Works

Beauheim, Neely Named Caplin, Fairstein Fellows

(By Mary Wood, originally posted on the Law School Website, here)

The Law School has named Alice Beauheim the 2008 Mortimer Caplin Public Service Fellow, while Victoria Neely will serve as the Linda A. Fairstein Public Service Fellow. The honors, which fund recipients' summer jobs, are given to exceptional law students committed to pursuing a career in public service.

Neely will use her fellowship to work under a family law  facilitator with the California Superior Court in Santa Cruz.

The facilitator works in one of the state court system’s self-service centers, which are designed to help residents represent themselves in divorce, custody, child support and guardianship cases. The centers help clients find and complete forms for legal actions and make sure their arguments are appropriate, Neely said. Attorneys working for the centers don’t represent a particular side in a case.

“There’s this great need for help with this really complex system,” Neely said. “It’s a pretty important service because the legal aid system can’t help most family law cases—there’s just too many of them.”

Neely, a Berkeley, Calif.,  native and single mother, will also work to improve the center’s direction to customers seeking information on making an appeal. In addition to the Fairstein fellowship, she received a Doris Buffet Fellowship for Children and Family Law.

Neely developed her interest in family law and public service through the Law School’s Family Resource Clinic, volunteering with the Domestic Violence Project and interning with the Central Virginia Legal Services and the Community Mediation Center of Charlottesville.

“I have a strong interest in mediation, too, so I’m thinking I might be able to combine that with family law in a fellowship” following law school, she said.

Beauheim, a former U.S. Army language trainer fluent in French, German and Serbo-Croatian, will harness some of her international experience at the International Peace Operations Association this summer in Washington, D.C., where she will focus on worldwide peacekeeping and humanitarian intervention efforts. 

“They lobby the government to make some legal framework for  those sorts of operations,” Beauheim said.

Beauheim previously interned with the International Rescue Committee and the U.S. State Department and trained in cryptology while serving in the Army.

“I hoped that a law degree would open doors for me in the foreign policy and nongovernmental organization sphere, and I’m interested in issues of transitional justice,” said Beauheim, who studied 20th-century diplomacy while earning her master’s degree in history at the University of Washington. “International humanitarian law and international law are an opportunity to tie together various parts of what I’ve done in the past.”

Last summer she worked for the prosecutor’s office in the War Crimes Department for the State Court of Bosnia-Herzegovina, where she helped prepare witnesses for testimony.

Beauheim said “there’s never been any doubt” that she would  pursue a public-interest career. 

"I'm much more interested in the options available in public  service,” she said.  

DOJ Flash Update on the AG's Honor and Internship Programs

Attention Classes of 2009 and 2010:

We just received an update from the DOJ.  The attached documents (below) essentially repeat the DOJ's on-grounds presentation as well as the information we provided during the course of the year here (AG's Honor Program) and here (summer internships).

Please contact our office if you have questions about internship and permanent opportunities at the DOJ. We are available throughout the summer during normal business hours.

Mortimer Caplin Public Service Center

Download 2008_doj_news_flash_from_doj.ppt

Download doj_2008_message_to_law_students.pdf

Consider a Clerkship with a Federal Magistrate Judge

A United States Magistrate Judge is a federal trial judge appointed to serve in a U.S. district court for a term of eight years. Federal magistrates  are appointed by the life-tenured federal judges of a district court, who supervise the activities of the magistrate judges by assigning them civil cases for jury or non-jury trial upon consent of the parties. Magistrate judges are heavily involved in alternative dispute resolution and routinely hold settlement conferences in their chambers. Many criminal cases are also assigned to federal magistrate judges.

The Honorable Carol Sandra Moore Wells, Federal Magistrate Judge for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, will give a talk on the benefits of a clerkship with a federal magistrate judge.  Her discussion will also include an overview of the work of magistrate judges, the daily responsibilities of her law clerks, the application process, and suggestions on how to prepare for and ace interviews.

            Date: Monday, April 21
            Place: Caddell Conference Room
            Time: 12:00PM

Lunch will be served if you confirm attendance at publicservicelaw@virginia.edu by noon, Thursday, April 17. All classes are welcome.

Judge Wells is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Law ('85).  From 1985 to 1987, she worked in private practice as an associate attorney with Pincus, Verlin, Hahn & Reich, P.C. From 1987 until 1996, Judge Wells worked for the City of Philadelphia as an Assistant City Solicitor, Deputy City Solicitor, and Senior Attorney. She was appointed as a Magistrate Judge in 1996, and reappointed in 2004.

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Public Service Center Seeking a Student Assistant for the Summer

Spending the summer in Hooville?

The Public Service Center is currently seeking a 1 or 2L to assist our office over the coming summer (2008). Student Assistants are responsible for posting public service job opportunities on CASE, assisting the office faculty and staff with various other tasks such as research, writing, blogging, data entry, and filing. The office has a relaxed atmosphere and we can offer some flexibility in scheduling.

Student Assistants typically work 10 to 15 hours a week during the summer, making the position ideal for someone who will also be working part time for another Law School department or with a professor. Compensation is $10.00/hr.

The ideal candidate should be able to work independently on assigned tasks, and should display a demonstrated interest in public service/interest law.  We assume all law students are proficient with Word, the Internet, etc.

At the conclusion of the summer, if there is good fit with our office, we may extend an offer to the intern to continue the part-time work throughout the next academic year.

Interested students should submit a resume to publicservicelaw@virginia.edu by 5:00pm on Wednesday, May 7, 2008.

Announcing the 2008-2009 PILA Board of Directors

The Public Service Center congratulates the newly elected
2008-2009 PILA Board:

                President
                Rebecca Vallas

                Disbursements Director
                Dana Jupiter

                Membership Directors
                Amy Saltzman & Erin Crowgey

                Fundraising Directors
                Susan Edwards; Steven Garrett; Caitlin Stapleton; Sara Wood

                Auction Directors
                Mac Caputo; Amanda Muller; Crystal Shin; Rita Taylor;
                Kyle Wamstad

                Treasurer
                Jason McKim

We would also like to thank all of the members of the outgoing 2007-2008 PILA Board of Directors for their hard work and dedication to all things public service over this past academic year.

The 2008-2009 Dean Acheson Legal Stage Program

The United States Embassy in Luxembourg is accepting applications for the Dean Acheson Legal Stage Program in Luxembourg at the Court of Justice of the European Communities for 2008-2009. The purpose of the Dean Acheson Legal Stage Program is to promote mutual understanding between the peoples of the United States and the European Union in the context of the legal profession. There are three types of stage available: (1) with a Judge of the Court of Justice; (2) with an Advocate General of the Court of Justice; and (3) with a Judge of the Court of First Instance.

There are two possible Dean Acheson Legal Stage periods for 2008-2009: Fall Term (mid-September to mid-December) and Spring Term (mid-February to mid-May). The maximum Stage period is three months due to Visa requirements for non-E.U. citizens. Dean Acheson stagiaires are responsible for the full cost of their transportation, room and board while participating in the Dean Acheson stage program.

Applications must be submitted to the Public Service Center by April 25, 2008. Please download the application here. More information about the program and application requirements are available here.

Attention 1Ls: Compensated Summer Internships at the Department of Justice

The mission of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) is to enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States; to ensure public safety against threats foreign and domestic; to provide federal leadership in preventing and controlling crime; to seek just punishment for those guilty of unlawful behavior; and to ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans. Students interested in learning about career paths with the DOJ are highly encouraged to read this posting and to the extent possible, attend an upcoming session where the DOJ will share information about how to secure employment with the department and what it’s like to practice law with the "Nation’s Litigator."

Every summer, the DOJ  hires second-year law students (and interested third-years) in a variety of practice areas. Under the Summer Law Intern Program, students are eligible to apply for competitive compensated summer internships offered by many Divisions within the DOJ, including the Civil, Criminal, Civil Rights, National Security, Environment & Natural Resources, Antitrust, Drug Enforcement, Justice Management, and many, many other Divisions.  A chart of the department's components is available here: Download doj_chart.pdf.

This year,  the DOJ has established a NEW AND COMPRESSED TIMELINE to apply for the Summer Law Intern Program: July 25 - September 2, 2008. 

Members of the Class of 2010 considering summer positions with the DOJ next year (summer of 2009) should therefore apply to the Program during the summer of 2008.  This time-line is much earlier than in previous years.

To help you navigate through the application process, Jennifer Rivera ('88), the DOJ's Director of Federal Programs, will give a presentation on Summer Law Intern Program and the Attorney General's Honors Program (for members of the Class of 2009).

                            Date: April 15
                            Time: Noon
                            Location: SL298

Ms. Rivera will discuss eligibility, the application process, salaries, how to ace interviews, background checks, and the work of various departments.

The United States Supreme Court at Virginia

The Honorable Antonin G. Scalia
Associate Justice
United States Supreme Court

A report on his presentation is posted on the Law School's site, here.

Current Pro Bono Opportunities April 11 - April 17, 2008

Please note the following available pro bono opportunities on the Pro Bono Project Database (click on the title for a link to the database posting):

Dewey & LeBoeuf: (New York, NY)
There are two projects related to in-state tuition eligibility. Under Virginia law, a dependent student's eligibility for in-state tuition generally runs through one of his parents' eligibility. If the parent is not eligible to establish domicile, then the student is not deemed eligible either. One or two students are needed to conduct research and write a memo on any possible federal constitutional issues that denying in-state tuition to US citizens because of their parents' immigration status might involve.

The second project involves a pending petition for judicial review of a decision by George Mason University denying in-state tuition to a student from the Netherlands. Two of the grounds for requesting the reversal of the final administrative decision is that the decision does not state the reasons upon which it is based (contrary to the requirements in the Domicile Guidelines published by the State Council on Higher Education for Virginia, the relevant state regulations issued pursuant to the law) and that the decision ignored relevant information submitted by the student in his request for reconsideration/appeal. We could use research on Virginia cases that support the proposition that GMU's final administrative decision amounted to a denial of due process.

Eligibility: 1Ls, 2Ls, 3Ls
Time Commitment:20-40 hours to be split between 2-4 students
Deadline: 04/11/08

Center for Creative Voices in Media: (Charlottesville, VA)
We are writing a report describing how the federal government might better utilize broadband to deliver services more effectively and efficiently. Researchers are needed to analyze the government programs we have already identified and imaginatively consider how broadband might improve the performance of these programs and also stimulate demand for broadband among consumers, thus advancing the government's -- and our -- goal of universal broadband deployment.

Eligibility: 1Ls, 2Ls, 3Ls, LLMs
Time Commitment: Flexible
Deadline: 05/15/08

Charlottesville City Commonwealth's Attorney's Office: (Charlottesville, VA)
A students is needed to research, writing and criminal case preparation for domestic violence and other violent crimes, as well as internet crimes against children. There will likely be some work with statistics and data. Strong writing and organizational skills required.

Eligibility: 2Ls, 3Ls
Time Commitment: Flexible
Deadline: 04/11/08

Chesapeake Bay Commission: (Richmond, VA)
In preparation for the Summit, the Commission will collaborate with partners to develop policy papers and recommendations. One step of this process involved researching what states and the federal government are doing to promote biofuel production. We are looking for 2-3 students to assist us in this research to assemble an inventory of current state and federal policies enabling the production of biofuels. The end product would be a summary of laws, regulations, and policies, including financial and legal incentives to produce and use biofuels. No analysis of the incentives is required, but a brief description of each program should be included and highlighting those that might work best in the Bay region would also be helpful.

Eligibility: 1Ls, 2Ls, 3Ls
Time Commitment: 10 hours per week
Deadline: 04/11/08

Just Children: (Charlottesville,  VA) 

The federal laws governing Medicaid require social services agencies to notify eligible families that EPSDT (Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment) funding may be available to pay for services that are medically necessary. Students in the Family Resource Clinic have discovered that a few of Legal Aid's clients have not been receiving notice of the availability of EPSDT services, and we would like to see if there are widespread or systemic violations of the duty to inform. We need 1-2 volunteers who are willing to interview former clients about whether and how they have received information about EPSDT. Interviews should take about 10 minutes. Calls may be made from home or our offices. 

 

Eligibility: 1Ls, 2Ls, 3Ls, LLMs

Time Commitment: 10-20 hours total
Deadline: 04/18/08

If you are interested in applying to any of these projects found on the database, please send an email containing your resume and specifying which project you wish to work on to lawprobono@virginia.edu.

Post-Graduate Permanent Employment With the Department of Justice

The mission of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) is to enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States; to ensure public safety against threats foreign and domestic; to provide federal leadership in preventing and controlling crime; to seek just punishment for those guilty of unlawful behavior; and to ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans. Students interested in learning about career paths with the DOJ are highly encouraged to read this posting and to the extent possible, attend an upcoming session where the DOJ will share information about how to secure employment with the department and what it’s like to practice law with the "Nation’s Litigator."

The DOJ Attorney General's Honors Program is the only means by which the DOJ hires entry-level attorneys. Eligibility is limited to graduating law students and graduates who complete judicial clerkships, graduate law programs or qualifying fellowships within nine months of law school graduation (see here for additional information on eligibility).

This year,  the DOJ has established a NEW AND COMPRESSED TIMELINE to apply for the Honors Program: July 25 - September 2, 2008.  Current 2Ls considering a full-time position with the DOJ following their graduation in May 2009 should therefore apply to the Honors Program during the summer of 2008.  This timeline is much earlier than in previous years.

To help you navigate through the application process, Jennifer Rivera ('88), the DOJ's Director of Federal Programs, will give a presentation on the Honors Program.

                            Date: April 15
                            Time: Noon
                            Location: SL298

Ms. Rivera will discuss eligibility, the application process, salaries, how to ace interviews, background checks, and the work of various departments. She will also be available to answer questions regarding the Summer Law Intern Program (the DOJ's recruitment program for compensated summer internships, primarily for rising 2Ls -- members of the Class of 2010)

The DOJ will soon post the participating components and hiring estimates for the 2009-2010 Honors Program. As a point of reference only, last year's participating components included the following:

• Antitrust Division
• Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives
• Civil Division
• Civil Rights Division
• Criminal Division
• Environmental and Natural Resources Division
• Executive Office for Immigration Review
• Federal Bureau of Prisons
• National Security Division
• Tax Division
• United States Attorneys Offices

We encourage you to review the Honors Program page for helpful information on the substance and process of the program, including key dates, information on the interview process, and other FAQs.

Questions about the upcoming presentation may be directed to the Mortimer Caplin Public Center at publicservicelaw@virginia.edu

Judge Underhill to Speak on Clerking at a Federal District Court

The Honorable Stefan R. Underhill, district judge for the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, will give a talk on the benefits of a federal trial court clerkship.  His discussion will also include an overview of the application process, suggestions on how to prepare for and ace interviews, and the daily responsibilities of judicial law clerks.

Date: Monday, April 14
Place: Caplin Pavilion
Time: 12:00PM

Lunch will be served to those who confirm their attendance at publicservicelaw@virginia.edu by 5 PM, Thursday, April 10.

Judge Underhill graduated from the University of Virginia in 1978 with a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies. In 1981, he received a second Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Oxford University, which he attended on a Rhodes Scholarship.  He graduated from Yale Law School In 1984.

Judge Underhill makes an effort to actively recruit Virginia Law student and graduates to work in his chambers.  His law clerk in the upcoming court term (2008 - 2009) is 3L Natalie Shonka ('08).  The Public Service Center is honored to host Judge Underhill and is grateful for his willingness to travel to Charlottesville to give this talk to our students.

A programming note:  The Honorable Carol Sandra Moore Wells, Magistrate Judge, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, will give a similar presentation on Monday, April 21, at noon.

 

Virginia Loan Forgiveness Program Orientation Session

On Monday, April 14, 2008, at 1:00PM, in SL294, Cynthia Burns, Director of Financial Aid, will be hosting an informational session to discuss the Virginia Loan Forgiveness Program (VLFP).

Briefly, under the VLFP, Law School education debt is forgiven every year during which graduates are employed in qualifying public service. Graduates who earn less than $35,000 per year are presumed unable to pay their loans and will receive 100 percent assistance for the year. Those who earn $35,000 or more are presumed able to pay one-half of their income above $35,000. For example, if a graduate has an annual loan payment of $10,000 and earns $40,000, the program would require the graduate to contribute $2,500 each year (half of what the graduate earns over $35,000) and the Program would provide $7,500 each year. Personal assets are excluded from consideration in determining benefits under the plan; however, for married graduates, spousal income may be taken into account in calculating benefits.

The session will include an overview of the program, a detailed discussion of the benefits, eligibility, and the application process.  Cindy Burns will also respond to questions.  All students, especially 3Ls considering careers in public service, are highly encouraged to attend.

Questions? Please contact the Financial Aid Office at finaid@law.virginia.edu.

2Ls Dolan, Merkelson and Walter Spend Spring Vacation on Louisiana Education Project

Over Spring Break, 2Ls Mike Dolan, Jeremy Merkelson, and Dan Walter decided to embark on an incredible mission.  Through the Spring Break Pro Bono Program, the three Virginia Law students headed down to New Orleans for the week to lend support to the efforts of Louisiana Appleseed, a public interest law center within the Appleseed network, whose mission is to identify and develop solutions to chronic injustices, specifically within the population most affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.

The students joined a partnership formed between Louisiana Appleseed, the Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) and the law firm of Stone, Pigman, Walther, Wittman & Hutchinson, LLP, in an effort to increase the Louisiana Latino population's access to the community and technical college system. "While there are programs available to the Latino community, they go largely unused due to the difficulty many Louisiana community colleges have effectively recruiting and educating the Latino community about these programs," said Allison Tiller '04, Gulf Coast Recovery Project Director for Appleseed.

Dolan, Merkelson and Walter all contributed to a research project aimed at gathering information both from the local community and other successful recruitment efforts around the country in order to develop the most effective and practical outreach plan. The students conducted internet research, as well as in-depth interviews with area officials, such as Dr. Robert Bell, Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs for LCTCS and LCTCS liaison to the project. Louisiana Appleseed, LCTCS and Stone Pigman will use the information garnered from this work in its upcoming meetings with the chancellors from Louisiana community colleges in order to develop their outreach plan. Stone Pigman also welcomed the students into their offices, providing them with desk space, administrative support, supplies, lunch breaks and other resources necessary to their efforts.

While Louisiana Appleseed and Stone Pigman took the time to expose Dolan, Merkelson and Walter to the unique character and spirit of Louisiana through dinners at local restaurants, drinks in the French Quarter, and even a Hornets game, Merkelson made it clear that the week was not only about office perks and good food: "Perhaps the most memorable moment of the trip came on Sunday, when Mike and I headed out to the Ninth Ward via taxi to see how the area had progressed in the almost three years since the storm had lefts its indelible mark. Here, in the middle of a modern American metropolis, there were whole stretches of streets with makeshift signs, crumbling edifices, and the familiar reds, blues, and greens of the spraypaint rescue markings on the houses that were not washed away by the storm. 'Need Food, Water',  'One Dog Dead', '9-10/search'. These same pleas for help echo with force almost three years since they were first etched on the clapboard houses of New Orleans."

Dolan echoed these sentiments: "The project gave us a great opportunity to help people in need, to work with experienced attorneys, and to explore the city of New Orleans.  The city is an incredible place, but it is still in dire need of help.  I was glad to be a part of the effort to restore and rebuild the city." He also strongly recommended that other UVA Law students join such efforts in the future, if possible.

From Appleseed's perspective, Tiller had nothing but glowing reports of the three students and their work. "Mike, Jeremy and Dan did much of the research work we will need going forward," Tillman said, highlighting the students' contributions as integral to the project's success. Tillman added, "We at Louisiana Appleseed are so thankful for the generosity of these students. Their research skills and time commitment helped get this exciting project off the ground.  We hope they and other UVA law students continue to be involved with this and other Appleseed projects." The students completed their full commitment to Louisiana Appleseed, but the organization has also extended an invitation to each of the three to continue their efforts, through participation in further calls and interviewing, and also by contributing a memo listing their particular recommendations on the recruitment strategy on reaching a broader base of Latino students.

"The people at Louisiana Appleseed and at the law offices of Stone Pigman were overwhelmingly generous. I can't thank them enough for all of their hospitality," added Dolan.

This ongoing project was created through an arrangement between Kimberly Emery, '91, Assistant Dean for Pro Bono and Public Interest (UVA Law) and Allison Tiller, '04, Gulf Coast Recovery Project Director (LA Appleseed). Students interested in volunteering with Louisiana Appleseed, either during their spring break or at other times in the year, should contact Dean Emery at lawprobono@virginia.edu.

*Pictured, left to right: Allison Tiller, Dan Walter, Louisiana Appleseed Executive Director Christy Kane, Mike Dolan and Jeremy Merkelson

Blogged by Amy Woolard, 3L

Post-Graduate Public Service Fellowship Talk

The Public Service Center will host an informational session on the three main post-graduate public service legal fellowships; the Powell Fellowship, the Skadden Fellowship, and the Equal Justice Works Fellowship. The talk will cover the basics of the fellowship application process, i.e. what kinds of projects qualify, how to apply, and what the interview process is like.

Monday, April 7, 2008
12:00pm-1:00pm
SL262

The University of Virginia School of Law was fortunate this year to have five 3Ls selected for these fellowships: Cary Brege (Equal Justice Works Fellow); Dania Davy, Michael Hollander, and Matthew VanWormer (Skadden Fellows); and Amy Woolard (Powell Fellow). Dania, Mike, Matt and Amy will be on hand to describe their experience and to answer your questions.

Java for Justice Series at LAJC

The Legal Aid Justice Center will once again be hosting it's annual Java for Justice Series. Java for Justice is a series of free, casual, gatherings where members of the community can learn about the Center's work with children, families, seniors, immigrants and others. These gatherings are accompanied by a light lunch and a cup of coffee.

The sessions are held every Tuesday from 12:00 - 1:00pm in April.

For a list of the various sessions, please see the attached document, Download java2008.pdf .

Attendance is free, but RSVP is appreciated. To RSVP please contact Susan Kruse at susan@justice4all.org or by calling 434-977-0553, ext. 101.

Conference at UGA Law: Working in the Public Interest

The Third annual Working in the Public Interest Conference will take place at the University of Georgia School of Law on April 4 and 5, 2008 in Athens, Georgia.

The conference is dedicated to bringing a creative forum for the discussion of practical approaches to lawyering that can best serve the poor. Registration is free for students, and free student housing will be provided.  Additional information regarding the conference is available here.

Foley & Lardner/Just Neighbors Internship

Foley & Lardner LLP and Just Neighbors are pleased to offer a summer internship position to a first- or a second-year Virginia Law student during the summer of 2008. 

The internship will be for a period of twelve (12) weeks.  The selected student will spend the initial ten weeks at the non-profit organization in Arlington, VA and will help provide immigration-related legal services to low-income immigrants and refugees. The remaining two weeks will be spent at Foley & Lardner's Washington, D.C. office, working exclusively on pro bono matters.  The stipend will be in the amount of $5,500.00 which will be disbursed prior to the commencement of the internship.

Just Neighbors represents immigrants who are eligible to obtain benefits from the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (formerly INS).  Benefits include lawful permanent residence, employment authorization, temporary protected status, and deferred action for immigrant victims of crimes and domestic violence.  Other services provided by the organization include assisting immigrants with relative visa petitions for beneficiaries, self-petitions under Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), and U visas (interim relief) for victims of crimes. A full listing of the services provided by the organization is available here.

Interested students should send a cover letter indicating their interest in providing Immigration Law-related legal services to low-income immigrants and refugees, and their resume to: Foley & Lardner LLP, c/o Public Service Center; via e-mail at publicservicelaw@virginia.edu.  Deadline: Friday, March 28.

Submit Your Pro Bono Hours for the Pro Bono Project Challenge

The Pro Bono Project challenges every law student to contribute at least 25 hours per year of pro bono service. Students who complete their required hours (25 hours for a 1L and 50 for a 2L) will receive a certificate of recognition at the end of their first and second years. Graduating students who have logged at least 75 pro bono hours will be recognized in the commencement brochure.

To make sure that your hours are included in the challenge and that you receive proper recognition of all your hard work, please fill out and submit all online pro bono logs by April 21, 2008. For more information on locating and submitting online pro bono logs, please go here.

If you are still trying to earn more hours, please see the Pro Bono Project Database for current projects in need of volunteers.

TJ Center to bring comedian Chris Bliss to Live Arts

The Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression is bringing comedian Chris Bliss -- a regular on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The Late Show with David Letterman, and whose "Big Finale" is an internet sensation downloaded by over 40 million people -- to Charlottesville's Live Arts Theater on Sunday, April 13, at 4:00PM.

Through exclusive arrangement, the Public Service Center has $10.00 tickets to the event (discounted from $25.00). The discounted tickets are limited and available to Virginia Law students only, and on a first-come/first-serve basis.

Tickets are available at the Public Service Center.  To purchase a ticket, please write a check to "Thomas Jefferson Center" or bring $10.00 in exact change (the Public Service Center does not carry change).

A preview of Chris Bliss' act is available here. Proceeds from the event will go to benefit the work of the Thomas Jefferson Center. 

Please address your questions about to this event to the Center's Associate Director, Josh Wheeler ('92), at 295-4784 or jjw@tjcenter@org.
 

Spring Break Pro Bono Projects

We'd like to thank all of the students who volunteered for a spring break pro bono project:

• Warren Allen, 3L: Charlottesville Albemarle Public Defender's Office
• Robert Burns, 2L: Charlottesville Albemarle Public Defender's Office
• Elizabeth DeFelice, 1L: Legal Aid Justice Center-Richmond
• Michael Dolan, 2L: Louisiana Appleseed
• Carlton Gammons, 1L: Charlottesville Commonwealth Attorney's Office
• Benjamin Holley, 2L: Charlottesville Commonwealth Attorney's Office                 and Virginia Capital Representation Resource Center
• Elizabeth Katz, 2L: Charlottesville Albemarle Public Defender's Office
• Jeremy Merkelson, 2L: Louisiana Appleseed
• Kathryn Reed, 1L: Human rights research with Professor Deena Hurwitz
• Kate Skagerberg, 3L: Legal Aid Justice Center --Charlottesville
• Daniel Walter, 2L: Louisiana Appleseed
• Jin Yan, 1L: Virginia Capital Representation Resource Center 

           

Thanks for all your hard work.

Spring Break Pro Bono Projects

Several students participated in spring break pro bono projects this past week, including two who worked with attorneys at the Legal Aid Justice Center. To read more about their projects, visit the LAJC's News and MediaCenter.

Non-profit Offers Affordable Housing Deals for Summer Interns in NYC

Education Housing Services is a not-for-profit organization that provides safe and affordable housing to students and interns in New York City. EHS has seven properties throughout New York City and Brooklyn this summer, and offers fully furnished accommodations that include 24/7 security, utilities, internet, cable, and other amenities.

To find out more about EHS and view the properties that are available this summer, please visit http://www.studenthousing.org

You may also call 1-800-297-4694 for more information.

CALL FOR CLAIRE CORCORAN AWARD NOMINATIONS

The PILA Board is accepting nominations for the 2008 Claire M. Corcoran award. The award was established in 1990 with the creation of a memorial fund established in memory of Claire M. Corcoran, a graduate of the law school's class of 1989, who passed away suddenly on December 20, 1989. The Corcoran Award is presented to one or two 2L students who have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to public service. In addition to the honor of being designated as the Corcoran Award recipient, the selected students will receive a cash prize of $1,500; should two students receive the award, they will receive $750 each.

Students, staff and faculty members who wish to nominate a 2L student should submit a written statement of no more than 500 words to Katie Schleeter, PILA President, at katieschleeter@virginia.edu no later than Friday, March 21, 2008. Among other things, the statement may address the nominee's pro bono work, his/her summer work in public service law, and relevant information about the work (volunteer or otherwise) the nominee did before law school. The PILA Board will announce the recipient(s) on the PILA bulletin board during the week of March 24, 2008.

Equal Justice Works 2008 Summer Corps Applications Will Be Made Available March 19

Interested students please keep an eye out for the Equal Justice Works 2008 Summer Corps Application, which will be made available on the Equal Justice Works website beginning March 19.

The Equal Justice Works Summer Corps program engages law students around the country who are expanded the delivery of legal services to those who need it most. Summer Corps is an AmeriCorps-funded program that in 2008 will provide 350 law students with the opportunity to earn a $1,000 education voucher for dedicating their summer to a qualifying legal project at a nonprofit public interest organization. Summer Corps members provide critically needed legal assistance in low-income and underserved communities in the United States on a broad range of issue areas.

As a Summer Corps member, students will:

(1) Serve a minimum of 300 hours at a nonprofit public interest organization of their choosing; (2) Earn a $1,000 AmeriCorps education award voucher upon completion of 300 hours of service that can be used to pay current educational expenses or qualified student loans; (3) Gain first-hand experience and legal skills in areas such as client intake, representation and legal research and writing; and (4) Become an official member of AmeriCorps, one of the larges national service networks in United States history

Summer Corps Timeline

(1) March 19, 2008: Summer Corps application will be available on the Equal Justice Works website; (2)
April 2, 2008: Application deadline -- 5:00 p.m. EDT; (3) April 18, 2008: Notification of status -- accepted, rejected or waitlisted -- will be received by all applicants; (4) May 2008: 2008 Summer Corps members must complete all enrollment paperwork and submit to Equal Justice Works by the first day of their service or May 23, whichever date is earlier; (5) May - June 2008: Summer Corps members begin their service; (6) July - September 2008: Summer Corps members complete their 300 hours of service by September 1st and submit all exit paperwork to Equal Justice Works within 14 days of completion; (7) October - November 2008: Summer Corps members receive a $1,000 AmeriCorps education award voucher in the mail.

Questions? Please email summercorps@equaljusticeworks.org

Equal Justice America Legal Services Fellowships for Summer 2008

Equal Justice America is pleased to offer fellowships of up to $4,000 to law students who will be working full-time during the summer of 2008 for organizations providing direct civil legal assistance for the poor.

* Students must secure a full-time (minimum 35-40 hours per week) placement for Summer 2008, working at least 10 weeks for a legal services organization.

* Summer fellowships may take place anywhere in the United States, provided that the hiring organization is a non-profit providing direct legal services to the poor.

To Apply: Applicants must send a cover letter describing their commitment and interest in providing legal services to the poor, a resume, two letters of recommendation, and an employment confirmation letter from the hiring organization to Equal Justice America at the following address:

Equal Justice America
Legal Services Fellowships
13540 East Boundary Road
Building II, Suite 204
Midlothian, Virginia 23112

* Please note that all required application items, including letters of recommendation, must be sent together.

All applications must be postmarked no later than March 24, 2008. Awards will be announced by email by April 21, 2008.

Please visit www.equaljusticeamerica.org for more information

Doris Buffett Fellowships for Summer 2008

The Center for Children, Families, and the Law is now accepting applications for Buffett Fellowhips for the Summer of 2008.

Graduate students of any discipline (Law, Education, Economics, Psychology, etc.) at the University of Virginia who are planning to be involved in applied work in the topic area of children and families in need are welcome to apply.

Applicants are encouraged to think broadly and creatively in applying for a Buffett Fellowship. Examples of appropriate applied activity include: (1) Law students working in public service settings and representing children and/or families; (2) Clinical psychology graduate students working as therapists with children and/or families in need; (3) Economics or business students who plan to assist a child welfare or family agency with fund raising or financial management; (4) Sociology graduate students who plan to help to mobilize volunteers or garner community support for a family or child advocacy initiative.

Innovation is encouraged in thinking broadly about applied work with children and families.

Applications will be accepted at any time, but suggested guidelines are: immediately for any ongoing practicum; December 1 for the spring semester; April 1 for the summer. Determinations of awards will be made within one month of receipt of applications. The maximum award is $3500 for full-time summer internship work, but awards typically range from $1000 to $3000 depending on the proposal and the number of hours involved in providing service.

The Center also accepts applications for support during the academic year.

For more details and application procedures for the Buffett Fellowships, please visit the Center's website.

Two Upcoming Clerkship Orientation Sessions for 2Ls, 3Ls

The Clerkship Committee will be hosting two upcoming clerkship orientation sessions. Please note that the 2L Session being held on Monday, March 17th is mandatory for those 2Ls interested in applying for a clerkship for the 2009-2010 term.

3L Clerkship Orientation Session

Date: Monday, March 10th, 2008

Time: 12:00 PM

                           Location: SL262

Third-year students interested in applying for clerkships for the 2009-2010 term will learn about the work judicial clerks do, why students may want to consider becoming a clerk after graduation, and the vital role that clerks play in the judicial system. The talk will include a basic summary of the application process, as well as a walkthrough of the CARS and OSCAR Application System.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2L Mandatory Clerkship Orientation Session

Date: Monday, March 17th, 2008

Time: 12:00 PM

                           Location: SL262

There will be a mandatory orientation session for 2Ls interested in applying for clerkships for the 2009-2010 term. The talk will provide a basic summary of the application process, as well as a walkthrough of the CARS and OSCAR application systems.

Please contact judicialclerkships@virginia.edu with any questions.

Turning Crisis Into A Pro Bono Opportunity: Allison Tiller ('04) to discuss post-Katrina legal relief projects

Date: Thursday, February 28, 2008

Time: 12:00 PM

Location: WB 105

Allison Tiller '04, Gulf Coast Recovery Project Director for Louisiana Appleseed, will discuss potential remote and on-location post-Katrina student pro bono projects in the Gulf Coast region. Ms. Tiller will also be available to answer questions and give further information on two relief efforts suggested for students interested in participating with an Alternative Spring Break effort in March. Students interested in pursuing Gulf Coast pro bono projects next year are also encouraged to attend.

All interested students welcome to attend.

Question? Please email lawprobono@virginia.edu for more information.

Gulf Coast Spring Break Pro Bono Opportunity

Louisiana Appleseed, a non-profit network of 16 public interest justice centers dedicated to creating universal access to the law, is seeking law student volunteers for two projects in an ongoing effort to address the ongoing issues created and revealed by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Opportunities are available for students to travel to New Orleans during Spring Break and also for students who wish to assist remotely. While the projects are initially scheduled for the Spring Break period, interested students may also have the possibility of continuing this work beyond that time.

The two available projects are:

1) Louisiana Appleseed has engaged the law firm Stone Pigman to research and write a report to be used by the Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) on ways to best reach and recruit members of the Latino community.  This report will likely include: a survey of states with a high level of Latino participation in the community college system; identification of the LCTCS programs currently in place that encourage access and/or participation by the Latino community, as well as course offerings that are particularly well-suited for Latino residents of Louisiana; specific outreach goals; and specific tactics to achieve the outreach goals.This report will be used by LCTCS chancellor to develop strategies with his board.  UVA Law students would be asked to research new solutions and best practices offered in other states and to perform an "internal audit"/meet with LCTCS administration to determine current practices.  The material produced will be used by Stone Pigman in the development of the report.   

2) Cases currently set for trial need summarizations performed on everything from depositions to witness interviews.  Law students in 2nd and 3rd years will be paired with an individual attorney to develop these documents as well as other functions required for each file.  In addition to this case by case assistance, law students will aid the city attorney's office with general clerical duties.   

Both projects can accommodate 2-3 students.  The LCTCS project is directly with Appleseed, so they would ideally like to fill that one first.  In addition, they have a public policy project, advocating for the ABA Model Rule on the Provision of Legal Services Following the Determination of a Major Disaster, which lends itself very nicely to student involvement and remote work.  They can also develop other options for remote work.

For more information about Appleseed and its projects, please visit www.appleseednetwork.org.

Students interested in signing on to this project should email lawprobono@virginia.edu with a resume by Monday, February 25th at noon (12:00 p.m.). Please indicate in your email which project you would be most interested in working on as well as whether you would plan to go to New Orleans or work remotely.

Spring Break Pro Bono Projects

As spring break approaches, the Public Service Center will once again be attempting to place interested students in Spring Break Pro Bono Projects. As with the Winter Break Pro Bono Program, students may request a short term volunteer opportunity in the area they plan to spend their spring break. The Public Service Center will then attempt to find a suitable organization in that area and set up a project for the student. The type of work students typically perform can vary from research and writing, to client intake, to attorney shadowing, etc. While we cannot guarantee a placement, we have generally been very successful in past years finding projects for students.

Students interested in applying for a Spring Break Pro Bono Project, should send an email to lawprobono@virginia.edu. The email should include the geographic location where you plan to/would like to spend your spring break, the dates you are able to work, the number of hours you are willing to volunteer, and your substantive areas of interest (child advocacy, housing, legal aid, public defense, prosecution, etc). Once we receive your request we will do our best to find you a placement based on the criteria you give us. Due to the short time period, we ask that any student making a project request be willing to volunteer at least twenty (20) hours.

All requests must be submitted by next Friday, February 22 in order to give us time to arrange placements.

Please feel free to send any questions or concerns you may have to lawprobono@virginia.edu.

The Hon. Donna Fields Goldtein, Los Angeles County Superior Court

The Public Service Center has become aware of an exciting summer opportunity for 1Ls and 2Ls. The Honorable Donna Fields Goldstein, a judge on Los Angeles County Superior Court, Family Court assignment, is seeking an intern for the upcoming summer, and would like to hire a student from UVA. Family Court often has the heaviest workload of all of the assignments. The Court typically handles divorces, paternity issues, domestic violence, property division, custody, and abuse cases.

Interns will be assisting Pro Se litigants prepare judgments, necessary pleadings such as Income and Expense Documents, declarations and Orders after hearing. They will also review Orders to Show Cause and summarize them for the court in advance of hearings. Interns may attend trials and hearings, and may be requested to research and prepare memoranda, as needed. This is an unpaid internship.

For more information about the court, please visit its website, here.

This opportunity is also posted on CASE.

Please Note: Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and transcript to the Public Service Center (SL249) by Friday, February 22 at noon. We will then send these materials directly to Judge Goldstein

How to Be a Public Interest Attorney at a Private Law Firm

Presented by Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP and the
Lawyers' Commitee For Civil Rights Under Law


Monday, February 25, 2008
12:00pm - 1:00pm
Caplin Pavilion

Interested in doing public service while working at a private law firm? Attorneys from Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP will be on hand to speak about their own experience of serving the public interest while working in the private sector. They will also cover why private law firms care about pro bono work and how to evaluate a law firm's commitment to pro bono. Nancy Anderson, Pro Bono Counsel for the Lawyers' Commitee for Civil Rights Under Law, will also be on hand to discuss the need for collaboration between public interest organizations and law firms and why these relationships are beneficial to both parties.

Panelists:

Nancy Anderson, Pro Bono Counsel for the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
Eridania Perez, Dewey & LeBoeuf Partner
Luis Parada, Dewey & LeBoeuf Associate
Katherine Brennan, Dewey & LeBoeuf Associate
Delia Patterson, Dewey & LeBoeuf Associate

Moderators:

Scot. H. Fishman, Esq., Dewey & LeBoeuf Director of Pro Bono
Kimberly Emery, UVA School of Law Assistant Dean for Pro Bono

Sandwiches and drinks will be provided to the first 30 students who RSVP to publicservicelaw@virginia.edu. All others are welcome to attend and to bring their own lunch.

2008 Public Interest Interview Week - Final Update

For those who have been scheduled for an interview during the 2008 Public Interest Interview Week, please read the following for important information about the upcoming interviews:

Dates, Times, and Locations: Those selected for interviews should have already received an email informing you of your interview date and times. Interview dates, times and locations may also be found in CASE. To access the information, click on "Employment Opportunities" and then "Search Opportunities." Change the "Opportunity Status" to "Inactive" and search by the phrase "2008 Public Interest Interview Week." This will bring up all of the employers who registered for the 2008 Public Interest Interview Week. Click on the name of an employer with whom you have been granted an interview. If you scroll to the bottom of the opportunity you will see a blue triangle next to the words "Interview Schedule." If you click on the triangle, the schedule should appear.  Please note that you will only be able to see the schedule if you have been selected for an interview by that employer. 

Cancellation: Since the cancellation deadline has already passed, you will no longer be able to cancel an interview unless you have already accepted another offer or you are extremely ill. If either of these situations occur, you must notify the Public Service Center immediately by sending an email to publicservicelaw@virginia.edu, to allow us to either schedule-in an alternate candidate or to inform the employer of the absence. Please note that students who fail to show up for scheduled interviews without having contacted the Public Service Center may be subject to the sanctions outlined in the Career Services Office and Public Service Center Policy on Interviews.

Additional Materials: If you have been selected for an interview, please check to see if that employer will require you to bring any additional materials to your interview. This can be done in three ways:

1) You can check the original posting on CASE by clicking on "All My Requests."  This view should show all of the employers that you have requested. Simply click on the employer's name and look in the comments section to see if they have requested any additional materials.

2) You may also check the On-Grounds Interview binders located in the Public Service and Career Library (SL208) and the Public Service Center (SL249). On the back of each entry is a list of the requested materials for that employer. Please note that these binders are also where application forms for certain employers may be located. If you need an application form, please make a copy of the original from the binder and then return the original so that others can use it as well.

3) Finally, you can simply check the attached file: Download employer_requested_materials.doc . The file lists all of the employers who have requested additional materials and what they have requested.

As a general rule, it is a good idea to bring a copy of your resume, your law school and undergraduate transcripts (unofficial is fine), as well as a writing sample with you (to each of your interviews).

If you have any questions about the Public Interest Interview Week, please feel free to contact us at publicservicelaw@virginia.edu.  Good luck with your interviews.
 

PILA Spring Public Service Kickoff

Please join the Public Interest Law Association (PILA) on Wednesday, February 6th at 3:30 p.m. in Caplin Pavilion for the PILA Spring Public Service Kick-off.

Alex Gulotta, Executive Director of the Legal Aid Justice Center, will be joining us as our special guest. Many of you know him or know of him, and when it comes to speaking on public interest law and a lawyer's commitment to public service, Alex is truly inspiring.

After Alex's talk, we will show a short film produced by the Conference on Public Service and the Law's keynote speaker, Southern Poverty Law Center President Richard Cohen.

"Mighty Times: The Children's March" is the story of the young people in Birmingham who braved police dogs and fire hoses to end segregation in Birmingham, Alabama in 1963. This 40-minute documentary has received numerous awards, including an Academy Award.

PILA will also provide the usual wine, cheese, and other snacks (yes, cannoli!) that law school events are known for, so please put the details on your calendar, bring your friends, and we'll look forward to seeing you Wednesday afternoon.

Questions? Contact Amy Woolard (alw7u) or Nicole Flatow (nf3j) for more information.

Judge Eric Taylor ('88) Los Angeles Superior Court

As a late addition to the Public Interest Interview Week, the Honorable Eric C.  Taylor (Virginia Law, '88),  Superior Court Judge, County of Los Angeles, Torrance, CA, will hire judicial interns in his chambers during the summer of 2008. 

1 and 2Ls interested in this opportunity may send their resume (only) directly to the Public Service Center (publicservicelaw@virginia.edu). 

Judge Eric's law interns will research and prepare memoranda, review case files, and attend trials, hearings, and conferences.  This is an unpaid internship.

The Public Service Center will contact those students selected for interviews. The judge's former law clerks, 2L Noelle Kenel-Pierre (link to e-mail) and 2L Lauren Paull will conduct the interviews at the Center on a date TBD, either during the week of February 12 and/or February 19. They are both available for questions about this opportunity.

9th Annual Conference on Public Service and the Law

The 2008, 9th Annual Conference on Public Service and the Law, held February 8-9 at the University of Virginia School of Law, features keynote speaker J. Richard Cohen (UVA Law '79), President of the Southern Poverty Law Center, Friday evening speaker Anne Milgram, New Jersey's State Attorney General, eight panel discussions and six career workshops.

"The Conference is a rare opportunity