Public Works

Pro Bono Opportunity with Victor M. Glasberg and Associates

A civil rights attorney in Northern Virginia is seeking students to assist him with a case involving the alleged abuse of a female prisoner.  The student volunteers would conduct interviews with inmates at the Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women and help with legal research.

Interested students must have access to a car. 

The completion date for this project is Sept. 15, 2009

To Apply: Interested students should submit a resume to lawprobono@virginia.edu by Monday, July 13, 2009, by 5:00pm.

This project satisfies the 75-hour Pro Bono Challenge.

Effective as of July 1, 2009: The College Cost Reduction & Access Act

On July 1, 2009, the College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRAA) became fully effective making   Income-Based Repayment available for borrowers.  Graduates working full-time in government and nonprofit positions are eligible to earn Public Service Loan Forgiveness.  Students interest in learning about public service loan forgiveness or income-based repayment are encouraged to check Equal Justice Works' Student Debt Relief page here.  Additional information on the Act is also available on EJW's blog.

2010 Equal Justice Fellowships: Deadline - September 17, 2009

July 4, 1776: The Declaration of Independence

Happy Fourth of July.

The image.

2009 Parternship for Public Service Career & Internship Fair

The Partnership for Public Service will host its annual Public Service Career and Internship Fair on July 16 from 3:00-7:00pm at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C.

Last year's event connected 67 federal agencies with 3,000 students and young professionals.  This year, agencies will be recruiting for a variety of positions including program analysts, Foreign Service Offices, federal investigators, and attorney, as well as for internships and fellowships.

For information about this important event please see the partnership's website here. The site contains a list of FAQs, tips and strategies for making the most of this event, and a list of participating agencies.

2009 Public Service Career & Internship Fair
July 16, 2009 | 3-7pm, National Building Museum, 401 F Street, NW, Washington DC 2001

Metro Stop: Judiciary Square

The 2009 Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair

 

The Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair is the largest annual gathering of public interest and government employers in the nation and will be held this year on Saturday and Sunday October 24 and 25 in Washington, D.C., at the Omni Shoreham Hotel. Over 150 public service/interest employers will be available to conduct prescheduled interviews for hundreds of internship and permanent positions throughout the country. 

The conference will provide a venue where participants can learn about various careers in the public interest.  The Table Talk sessions provide an informal opportunity for law students to introduce themselves to participating employers and possibly to conduct impromptu interviews. For additional information about the conference and career fair, please see the 2008 program book, conference sessions, and a list of past employers here.

The registration fee for attendees is covered by the annual membership that the Mortimer Caplin Public Service Center maintains.  However, students are responsible for travel and lodging costs.

Important dates:

August 31-September 9: Students submit applications to employers
September 11- 25:  Employers select students for interviews
September 25: Preselected students notified if they receive interviews
October 24 and 25: Conference and Career Fair

Students will need to register for the Fair to research participating employers, upload resumes, and schedule interviews on Symplicity (you will need to create an Equal Justice Works Symplicity account separate from the Virginia Law Symplicity account).

Information on how to register for the career fair will be made available soon. Please check this blog or the EJW site thoughout the summer.

National Black Prosecutors Association 26th Annual Conference

The National Black Prosecutors Association (NBPA) will hold its annual Job Fair on Tuesday, July 21, 2009 at the Marriot Memphis Downtown in Memphis, Tennessee.  The goal of the NBPA Job Fair is to promote diversity in prosecutor offices by providing a forum where law students, recent law graduates, and experienced attorneys from across the nation can meet and interview with prospective prosecutorial employers at the local, state, and federal levels.

For more information: NBPA Job Fair 2009 Prospective Participant Letter

Students who wish to register to attend should complete and submit the following registration form: NBPA Job Fair Applicant Registration Form 2009

List of employers who will be recruiting at the job fair: Job Fair Employer Criteria 2009

The NBPA job fair, organized to encourage diversity in prosecutor offices, is open to ALL students.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (College Cost Reduction & Access Act)

We participated in one of EJW's webinars on the College Cost Reduction & Access Act's Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (effective July 2010).  We found it extremely informative.  The final presentation is on Wednesday, June 24 (at 3:15 - 4:45pm EDT; 2:15pm CDT; 12:15pm PDT). The presenter is Heather Jarvis, Esq., a national expert on educational debt and the financial barriers facing law graduates.

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program is one of the most significant breakthroughs for public interest lawyers in a generation. Briefly, the program offers loan forgiveness after 10-years of public service employment. To qualify for loan forgiveness, a borrower must make monthly loan payments for ten years (120 payments) while working full-time in qualifying public service employment.  Qualifying public service employment is full-time paid work in the government; a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, an AmeriCorps position, the PeaceCorps, or a private "public service organization."

Additional information on the program and how to sign up for the webinar is available on Public Works here.  The Equal Justice Works site has a link to FAQs which include video responses by Heather Jarvis. Please note that the June 24 Webinar will allow you to ask questions during the session.

Questions about the Virginia Loan Forgiveness Program (VLFP) may be directed to Cynthia Burns in the Financial Aid Office

Pro Bono Opportunity with ConSource

The Constitutional Sources Project is seeking students to work on a pro bono project involving an online library of constitutional sources. ConSource is a nonprofit located in Washington, D.C., which was founded to facilitate research, increase understanding, and encourage discussion of the U.S. Constitution by creating and maintaining the first, free, full-indexed, comprehensive online library of constitutional sources.

Student volunteers will read online documents written by U.S. Founders and cross-reference

relevant text to predetermined clauses in the Constitution. Students will enjoy location and time flexibility, completing work on their own schedule and from their own internet connection. 

The hours are flexible (anywhere from 5 to 50 hours depending on student availability), and the project is expected to be completed by August 15 2009.

To Apply: Interested students should submit a resume to lawprobono@virginia.edu by Monday, June 22, 2009, by 5:00pm.

This project satisfies the 75-hour Pro Bono Challenge.

Equal Justice Works: Student Debt Relief Webinars

2nd Anniversary of the Virginia Institutionalized Person's Project

The Legal Aid Justice Center in Charlottesville will be hosting a reception to celebrate the 2nd anniversary of the Virginia Institutionalized Person's Project.

Sunday, May 3, 2009
5:00pm - 6:30pm
Legal Aid Justice Center

Drinks and light hors d' oeuvres will be provided.

Meet special guests Jennifer Thompson-Cannino and Ronald Cotton who will be presenting Picking Cotton:  Our Memoir of Injustice and Redemption at the Miller Center on Monday, May 4 at 11am.  Picking Cotton details Thompson-Cannino's mistaken identification of Cotton as her rapist, his subsequent imprisonment and release, and their unlikely friendship. 

Rsvp to Susan Kruse, susan@justice4all.org, 434-977-0553, ext. 101.

Entry-Level Attorney Openings on PSLawNet

PSLawNet continues to be a valuable source of information for law students and graduates who are looking for employment in the Public Service sector.

The appended document contains a list of 36 current entry-level attorney openings throughout the country available on PSLawNet: Current PSLawNet Postings

Law Firm Deferral: Update on Available Internships

This is an update for third-year students whose start dates have been deferred.  As of today, 333 opportunities have been posted on PSLawNet.  These include internships with the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, Blue Ridge Legal Services, ACLU, Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia, New York City Law Department, National Employment Law Project, National Juvenile Defender Service, Vera Institute of Justice, The Innocence Project, and Lambda Legal.

In addition, we have received a few similar opportunities from some nonprofits which we (together with the Office of Career Services) will continue to post on Symplicity.  However, we reiterate that PSLawNet is the  clearinghouse for internship positions for deferred associates. 

Lawyers Turned Authors: Fran Cannon Slayton '94 and Kevin Flynn '82

Fran Cannon Slayton ('94), former prosecutor in the Commonwealth of Virginia and author of young adult novel When the Whistle Blows and Kevin Flynn ('82), Assistant United States Attorney (Washington, D.C.) and author of the best-selling, real-life, legal thriller Relentless Pursuit will be visiting the law school for a brown bag presentation on Tuesday, April 21 at 12:00 pm in WB 121.  Slayton and Flynn will discuss their books, the writing and publishing process, and how their legal background allowed them to become effective writers.

Light lunch will be provided.

When the Whistle Blows (both books are available at online bookstores) is Fran Slayton's debut novel and tells a coming of age story about a boy growing up in a railroad town in West Virginia during the 1940s when small railroad towns are dying.  Slayton tells a heart warming and realistic story about how a young boy comes to terms with his changing world.  Slayton has received critical acclaim for her book but one review caught our eye: according to Diane Chen,

[When the Whistle Blows] is fresh, smart, witty, warm, well-written, funny -- all those great adjectives you want to see and that help tip you over the purchasing edge. But it is also SO BOY. I love that. It is something to embrace and to not be ashamed. There is drama and there is football. It is a celebration of living with each new "birth"day chapter, but it is also a recognition of the part of death in our lives.  Death is a mystery, a crossing point, a cry, a laugh, a letting-go, a grieving, and a ritual part of living. Sometimes you don't realize how much a book impacts you until someone else asks you what you thought of it. So is the case of When the Whistle Blows by Fran Cannon Slayton. I read it in one sitting and could not put it down. I thought about it and thought about how to review it, but kept putting it off to think. Then, another librarian asked me if it was any good.

What? Any good? This is an amazing novel. You won't get to see it until June, 2009, but you will want to go ahead and pre-order it. To the Teachers at my school who read over my shoulder, I am sorry but you cannot have my advanced reading copy. I like it so much that I actually wrote in it, dog-eared pages, and flagged some of my favorite scenes. Do I want you showing students that sometimes these sacred library books become more than clean pages to glance over and preserve? Do I want you showing students that fictional novels can become an important part of determining who you are? Do I want students to know that books are worthy of study, thinking, and re-reading? Well, maybe I'll let you borrow it but only until I can get the final hardcover. 

Read Chen's review in its entirety here.

Relentless Pursuit is an intense reconstruction of the brutal double murder of Diane Hawkins and her 13-year-old daughter Katrina.  Kevin Flynn tells a gripping account about the murder, arrest, trial, and verdict, as well as a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the life of a dedicated federal homicide prosecutor and Virginia Law alum. Publisher's Weekly offers an excellent synopsis of the book: 

In this true crime narrative, prosecutor Flynn presents a "story of extremes ... humanity at its most brutal and noble," and if one can withstand the bleak proceedings—including detailed descriptions of the horrific double murder of a mother and daughter—this title has much to offer. In 1993, Flynn was a 36-year-old U.S. Attorney in Washington, D.C., when he was assigned to a case involving the murders of Diane Hawkins and her 13-year-old daughter, Katrina Harris. All signs point to Norman Harrell, Hawkins' former boyfriend and the father of one of her sons; the murders occurred just days before Hawkins was to meet Harrell in court over a child support dispute. As Flynn works through the tumultuous early days of the trial, he's surprised by the affection and faith of the "populous Hawkins clan," and prodded on by thoughts of his  own wife and child. Against a backdrop of everyday life and domestic complications—including his father's diagnosis with lung cancer—the prosecutor chronicles the case in meticulous detail, taking readers step by step through the unfolding courtroom drama. The portrait of Harrell that emerges is chilling; remarking on their similarities (both prosecutor and defendant have "loner's souls"), Flynn surmises that something "had been horribly miswired in him. And the sad thing was, I don't think he ever knew it." Flynn's is a fascinating, rewarding story of one attorney's dogged determination to exact justice.

All students are encouraged to attend this event to hear how two alums sucessfully attained their dreams of becoming published authors.  Students interested in writing as well as those considering careers in criminal law are especially encouraged to attend.

Law Firm Deferral: Opportunities at LAJC

The Legal Aid Justice Center seeks to host attorneys on public interest furlough or deferral to work in one of our four offices in Virginia. The positions are dependent upon your ability to secure and obtain third-party funding. Depending on individual interest and location preference, the attorney may work on one or several of various poverty law issues such as public benefits, affordable housing, employment, special education, or juvenile justice. The Legal Aid Justice Center is a nationally recognized, non-profit civil legal assistance program with offices in Charlottesville, Falls Church (Metro D.C.), Petersburg and Richmond. Our dynamic staff of more than two dozen attorneys pursue systemic legal advocacy for all low-income Virginians using a wide array of strategies. Through legal representation, community education and statewide advocacy, the Legal Aid Justice Center works both to eliminate the immediate symptoms and to address the underlying causes of poverty in Virginia. Individuals interested in working with any of our targeted programs are encouraged to apply.

Information on how to apply for the internship positions is available here: Download Public Interest Fellows edited.

Submit Your Pro Bono Hours for the Pro Bono Project Challenge

The Virginia Law 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 1Ls and 50 for 2Ls) will receive a certificate of recognition at the end of their first and second years. Graduating students who have logged at least 75 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, we ask that you do the following by Friday April 24:

1. Fill out and submit all online pro bono logs. The hours do not need to have been approved by the 24th but they do need to have been submitted. (For more information on locating and submitting online pro bono logs, please go here.)
2. Submit a completed Student Evaluation Form for each project you participated in. (A copy of the evaluation form can also be picked up in the Public Service Center - SL249).
3. Complete a Volunteer Agreement for each project you participated in. (This should have been done prior to the start of your project).

If you would like to check your pro bono hours that you have already logged, please refer to the following document: 

How to Check Your Total Pro Bono Hours

Due to the change in Pro Bono Work Log systems during the 2007-2008 academic year, 3Ls will also need to check the old work log system. The following document demonstrates how to do this:

How to Check Your Total Pro Bono Hours (Prior to 2007-2008)

If you are a 3L who is close to 75 hours and would like to reach the 75 hour requirement, please contact Dean Emery at lawprobono@virginia.edu.

Image | Courtesy

Fair Housing Clinic for the Disabled (and their Advocates)

The Piedmont Housing Alliance (PHA) and Independence Resource Center (IRC) will sponsor a short clinic on fair housing for people with disabilities.  The event will take place on April 21, 2009, between noon and 2:00pm, at the Independence Resource Center in Charlottesville, VA.  Center is located at 815 Cherry Avenue.

The clinic is designed to give people with disabilities and their advocates information and individualized assistance on their fair housing rights. Below are a few highlights of what the clinic offers:

• Learn how the Fair Housing Act protects people with physical and mental disabilities from housing discrimination;
• Review the rights of people with disabilities to reasonable accommodations (changes in rules and policies) and modifications (structural changes for accessibility) in housing;
• Discuss examples of local housing discrimination and successful advocacy efforts in support of fair housing rights;
• Get one-on-one assistance with your fair housing concern;
• Receive take-home materials and local resource information.

This event is free and open to the public but registration is required by April 20. Lunch will be available for all registered attendees. For more information and to reserve your seat, contact: Tryshan Ravenell at Piedmont Housing Alliance at 817-2436 ext. 113.

Deferred Law Firm Associate Opportunities on PSLawNet

PSLawNet -- the online resource for public service careers and employers -- has created a page for students whose start dates have been deferred by law firms. Registration for Virginia Law students and graduates is free. 

PSLawNet is serving as a clearinghouse for public interest organizations to post notices about their willingness to place law firm associates.  Accordingly, PSLawNet has, as of today, listed more than 150 internship and pro bono opportunities in several states across the nation. A few of these organizations include the New York City Law Department, The Constitution Project (Washington, D.C.), National Security Archive (D.C.), Texas Appleseed, Advocates for Human Rights (Minneapolis), ACLU (San Diego, Seattle), Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights (San Francisco), Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (Newark), National Center for Refugee & Immigrant Children (Charlotte and Los Angeles), National Juvenile Defender Center (Las Vegas, New Orleans, Houston), etc.

The law firm page provides links to several helpful resources including to the Association of Pro Bono Counsel's Considerations for the Placement of Law Firm Attorneys into Public Interest Organizations, a list of pro bono clearinghouses in several states, to the Pro Bono Institute, the American Bar Association, and to relevant news items.

Previous postings for deferred third years are available here (New Jersey Job Fair -- April 8, 2009), here (NYT), and here (PSLawNet). The Public Service Center remains available to assist students with their individual search for public interest and pro bono opportunities.

Congratulations to the Winners of the 2009 Claire Corcoran Award

Erin Crowgey and Crystal Shin are the recipients of this year's Claire Corcoran Award. The Corcoran Award is presented to one or two second-year students who have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to public service. The award was established in 1990 through 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.

Crystal Shin has dedicated her career to serve the public interest.  After she completed her undergraduate  studies at the University of Virginia, as a Teach for America (TFA) Corp Member, Crystal taught Fourth  Grade Social Studies and Science at Pinkston Street Elementary School in Henderson, North Carolina for three years. Immediately before she began her legal studies, she worked as a Lead Corps Member Advisor for TFA.  After her first year studies at Virginia Law, Crystal interned at the Legal Aid Justice Center with the JustChildren Program.  At the Law School, she has has served on the Student Bar Association, Women of Color, Teach for America and PILA boards and has volunteered for the McGuire Woods Child Advocacy Project.  In the summer, she will be working for the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia in the Civil Legal Services Division on issues involving special education.

Erin Crowgey's advocacy on behalf of indigent clients began even before she embarked on her legal studies.  As part of a domestic abuse response team at an organization that advocates on behalf of battered women in Poughkeepsie, NY, Erin worked with law enforcement agencies to coordinate the community's response to domestic violence. At Virginia Law, during the 2007 winter recess, she  volunteered at the Legal Aid Justice Center JustChildren Program and subsequently returned to the organization as a summer intern. As a pro bono volunteer, she has worked with the Hunton & Williams Pro Bono Partnership in Family Law and with Action for a Better Living, a student-run service organization at UVA that provides student volunteers opportunities to help disadvantaged children in Charlottesville. She has also volunteered with Shelter for Help in Emergency. Next summer, Erin will be working at the Colorado State Public Defender.

Please join us in congratulating Erin (epc4j) and Crystal (css6a).

Post-Graduate Public Service Fellowship Talk

The Public Service Center and PILA will host an information session on post-graduate public service legal fellowships. 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 13, 2009
12:00pm-1:00pm
SL294

Three current fellows will be on hand to offer a first-hand account of their post-graduate fellowship application experience:

Cary Brege ('08) is the most recent Virginia Law graduate to receive an Equal Justice Works Fellowship. She is currently working for Advocates for Children’s Services, a state-wide program of Legal Aid of North Carolina in . Her project involves ensuring that students receive a sound basic education by protecting and enforcing their rights in school discipline proceedings. Story here.

Rebecca Vallas ('09) received a Skadden Fellowship this year. She will work with Community Legal Services in Philadelphia, PA. Her project will provide direct representation to elderly and disabled Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients. Story here.

Amy Woolard ('08) is the 2008 recipient of the Powell Fellowship in Legal Services. She is currently working for the Legal Aid Justice Center, JustChildren Program in Richmond, VA. Her project involves advocating on behalf of youths in the educational, foster care, and juvenile justice systems. Story here.

Interested in Health Law Internship and Fellowship opportunities?

The Kaiser Family Foundation operates a database that lists numerous health law opportunities for law students and recent law graduates. To view these opportunities, visit the database here.

Virginia Loan Forgiveness Program Information Session

On Monday, April 20, 2009, at 12:00PM, in WB103, Cynthia Burns, Director of Financial Aid will be hosting an information 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.

New Jersey Deferred Associates Job Fair April 8, 2009

On April 8, 2009 from 11:30 to 2:30 at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Newark, NJ, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice will hold a job fair for law school graduates whose employment at some of the top law firms in the country has been deferred for a year or more due to the economy.

The Deferred Associates Fair aims to connect deferred associates and the firms with understaffed and underfunded New Jersey public interest law organizations eager for their assistance. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the work of the organizations in attendance and participate in brief initial interviews with agencies of their choice. Deferred associates interested in attending the Fair may register at www.vljnj.org.

Please see attached flier and press release for more information.

NJ Deferred Associate Job Fair Flier

NJ Deferred Associates Job Fair Press Release

Clinic Information Panel: Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Participating in a clinic is one of the best ways to get hands-on legal experience as a law student.  Virginia Law offers an array of clinical programs. On April 7, 2009, at 5:00PM, in Purcell Reading Room, at an information panel sponsored by Public Interest Law Association (PILA) and the Public Service Center, several clinic instructors and students will offer an overview of the programs.

Alex Gulotta, Executive Director of Legal Aid Justice Center, will kick off the session with a brief introduction. A presentation by the clinic supervisors and students will follow. The following clinics have confirmed their attendance:*

(1)  Advocacy for the Elderly
(2)  Child Advocacy
(3)  Criminal Defense
(4)  Employment Law
(5)  Environmental Law and Conservation
(6)  Family Alternative Dispute Resolution
(7)  Family Resource
(8)  Housing Law
(9)  Immigration Law
(10) Innocence Project
(11) International Human Rights Law
(12) Mental Health Law
(13) Prosecution
(14) Supreme Court Litigation 

* Additional confirmations: (a) Appellate Litigation ; (b) Capital Post-Conviction; (c) First Amendment

Wine and light refreshments will be served.  Please come with your questions.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Post Script: The following documents were distributed during the Information Panel:

2009-2010 Clinical Courses Chart

Clinic Information Session Agenda with Clinic Contacts

Congratulations to the New PILA Board Members and Farewell to the Outgoing Board

The Public Service Center extends its congratulations to the newly elected 2009-2010 PILA Board members. We look forward to another productive year working with PILA. 

President: Susan Edwards

Disbursement Director: Erin Crowgey

Membership Directors: Sara Wood, Jesse Stewart

Fundraising Directors: Alex Blanchard, Veronica Bath, Claire Blumenson, Susan Kruth

Auction Directors: Crystal Shin, Priya Roy, Jeree Harris, Rebecca Gantt, Peggy Nicholson

Treasurer: Steven Garrett

We use this opportunity to express our profound gratitude to all members of the outgoing PILA Board for their service to the Law School community. Their deep and abiding commitment to serve their fellow students and the public is inspirational.  Moreover, PILA's and the PSC's collaborative efforts during the school year, in addition to bringing numerous speakers to the the Law School, helped first- second- and third-year students secure internship and permanent opportunities in the public interest. We wish the graduating members of the outgoing board much luck in all their endeavors.  We hope to stay in touch.

The staff of the Mortimer Caplin Public Service Center

Pro Bono Opportunity with the Family Resource Clinic

The Family Resource Clinic is in need of a student pro bono volunteer who is able to translate a legal letter into Dari.

The project should take around 2-4 hours and must be completed by April 10, 2009.

To Apply: please submit a resume to lawprobono@virginia.edu by Friday, April 3, 2009, at 5:00 pm.

This project satisfies the 75-hour Pro Bono Challenge.

The 2009-2010 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 2009-2010. 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 2009-2010: 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 Monday, April 27, 2009. The application form and more information about the Dean Acheson Program are attached.

Download Dean_Acheson_Application_2009

European Summer Institute 2009

Prague's Centre for Public Policy is pleased to announce the forthcoming European Summer Institute 2009 on the Future of Europe: Lobbying in Brussels.  The European Summer Institute 2009 is a seven-day academic program designed to bring together 30 undergraduate and graduate students of various nationalities and academic backgrounds in an unique academic and cultural environment.

The program provides students with an exciting opportunity to deepen their knowledge of current EU politics through the exchange of ideas with academics, policy practitioners and fellow students from different cultures. The European Summer Institute combines intensive academic courses with cultural, social and recreational opportunities.

The program will take place in Prague from July 4-11, 2009.  The early-bird application deadline is April 30, 2009.  Please see the Program's website for more information and to complete an online application.

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

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. Tracy Elizabeth Clay, General Counsel for Teach for America, 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.

Thursday, April 2
12:00pm
Purcell Reading Room

Panelists:

Tracy Elizabeth Clay-General Counsel, Teach for America
Beth Dyer, Associate, Dewey LeBoeuf
Julia Richardson, Associate, Dewey LeBoeuf

Moderators:

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

Light lunch will be served.

Prosecuting Hate: Developing an Effective and Fair Approach to Hate Crimes

Please join the Center for the Study of Race and Law, Asian Pacific American Law Students  Association, Black Law Students Association, Islamic Legal Exchange, and the Public Service Center for a presentation by Mark Kappelhoff, Chief of the Criminal Section of Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice, on Wednesday, April 1, 2009 in the Class of 1950 Dining Room (next to Scott Commons), at 4:00pm. A reception will follow.

Mr. Kappelhoff will discuss the state of hate crimes prosecutions, whether federal anti-hate crimes laws have been successful and whether proposals for reform, such as the controversial Matthew Shepard Act, are justified and fair. A light reception will follow Mr. Kappelhoff’s talk.  Students interested in civil rights work are encouraged to meet Mr. Kappelhoff during the reception.

Mr. Kappelhoff’s biography:

Mark Kappelhoff currently serves as the Chief of the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division in the U.S. Department of Justice.  In that position, he supervises and manages DOJ attorneys involved in the investigation and prosecution of federal criminal civil rights violations, including bias-motivated crimes, human trafficking and law enforcement misconduct.

Prior to serving as Chief, Mr. Kappelhoff was Deputy Chief and Trial Attorney in the Section.  He has investigated and prosecuted several high profile civil rights cases.  In a racial violence case, he convicted three white defendants who burned a seven-foot tall cross in the front yard of an African-American family’s home in Kansas.  He also supervised and assisted in the prosecution of United States v. Kil Soo Lee, et al., the largest human trafficking case ever prosecuted by the Department of Justice.  Mr. Kappelhoff and the entire trial team were awarded the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service, the second highest award in the Department.  He also led an extensive investigation into allegations of widespread corruption involving police officers in the Rampart Division of the Los Angeles Police Department. For his efforts, he received the Director’s Award for Superior Performance.

Mr. Kappelhoff has taught seminar courses as an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University Law Center, the American University, Washington College of Law and the University of Maryland Law School.  He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota and earned his law degree from American University, Washington College of Law in Washington, DC.

Blog post by Shaunik Pensee ('09)

Law Firm Deferrals: How to find public service/interest internships/fellowships

Third year students whose start date at various law firms was recently postponed can search for organizations that offer volunteer internship positions on PSLawNet. 

A leading public interest law job database, PSLawNet has created a special category of job postings for deferred associates under the job type "law firm associate host."  By searching jobs in this category, you will find a variety of opportunities created specifically for deferred associates. Registration for PSLawNet is free for Virginia Law students and alumni.

"Java for Justice" at Legal Aid Justice Center

The Legal Aid Justice Center will once again host its annual Java for Justice Series. Java for Justice is a series of 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 coffee.

The sessions are held April 13 - 17 from 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Attendance is free, but students should RSVP, if possible. To RSVP, please contact Susan Kruse at susan@justice4all.org or by calling 434-977-0553, ext. 101. All events will take place at the Legal Aid Justice Center, 1000 Preston Avenue, Charlottesville, VA  22903.

The following is a list of the sessions offered in April:

Monday, April 13: Andy Block, Angela Ciolfi, Emily Dreyfus, Kate Duvall, and Katie Ryan of JustChildren explain how they fight for the rights of Virginia's most vulnerable children in education and juvenile justice matters.

Tuesday, April 14: John Conover, Brenda Castaneda, Alex Gulotta, Carolyn Kalantari, Liz Moore, Dan Nagin, Carolyn Pointer, and Catherine Rotolo from the Civil Advocacy Program talk about ensuring access to justice for low-income Virginians in the areas of employment, housing, public benefits and consumer fraud.

Wednesday, April 15:  Attorneys Kathleen Caldwell and Claire Curry of the Elder Law Initiative discuss their work protecting the rights of low-income seniors and the Community Partnership for Improved Long-Term Care.

Thursday, April 16:  Edgar Aranda-Yanoc, Pamela Banner, Arnoldo Borja, Dan Choi, Tim Freilich, Claudia Henriquez and Erin Trodden of the Immigrant Advocacy Program explain how they help low-wage workers find fair treatment. Doug Ford of the Pro-Bono Immigration Project addresses issues related to immigration status.

Friday, April 17: Helen Trainor will explain how the Virginia Institutionalized Persons Project works to improve health services, including mental health care in prisons and other institutions and ensures that residents' civil rights are protected.

The Impact of American Lawyer on Law Firm Pro Bono

Aric Press, Esq., Editor and Chief for American Lawyer, will speak at the Law School on Thursday, March 26, 2009, in Caplin Pavilion, between 8:30 and 10:00am. Mr. Press will speak about the impact of American Lawyer on law firm pro bono programs over the past ten years.

Light breakfast will be served.

Mr. Press's biography:

Aric Press became the editor in chief of The American Lawyer in February 1998. He joined the magazine after working as a writer and an editor at Newsweek for almost 19 years.

During his tenure at The American Lawyer, the magazine has expanded its reach, shortened its stories, and put a renewed emphasis on public service by lawyers and law firms. The magazine has won a series of national journalism and design awards and is generally recognized as the leading publication covering law firms and their business. Press also serves as the editorial director of  Incisive Media’s national magazine group. In that capacity he oversees Corporate Counsel, IP Law & Business, Law Technology News, Focus Europe, the Minority Law Journal, and the editorial group at Law.com.

Press is a graduate of Cornell University and New York University Law School. He lives with his wife and three children in Brooklyn, N.Y.

A Conversation with Writer and Lawyer Peter Orner

Telling compelling stories for court and for publication: a conversation with writer and lawyer Peter Orner as he shares some insights on telling the stories of undocumented immigrants.

Monday, March 23,11:45am, SL121

Peter Orner, Editor of Underground America and Associate Professor of Creative Writing at San Francisco State University. Lunch provided to the first 25 to sign-up. Please RSVP to Cindy Derrick at cal7y@virginia.edu

Sponsored by the Immigration Program. For more info contact:  Doug Ford at doug@justice4all.org

Advice for attorneys seeking to volunteer at public interest organizations

An article in The New York Times --"Even Pro Bono Work Requires Doing Your Homework First" -- provides valuable advice to attorneys who seek to volunteer in the public interest.  Here's an excerpt:

One common piece of advice given to the newly laid off is to seek volunteer work until a paid job comes along. At a minimum, volunteer work will get you out of bed in the morning. And in the best case, it can both do some good and lead to future employment.

The trouble is that finding the right volunteer job can sometimes seem as difficult as obtaining a salaried position — and with only psychic, rather than financial, rewards.

Read the full article here.

Law Firms Facing Economic Realities Redirect Lawyers to the Public Interest

CNN.com just posted an online article "For Jobless Lawyers, Plan B Includes Good Works." Here's an excerpt:

"In the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, the legal industry is taking an unprecedented beating from the sputtering economy and housing meltdown. Dineen, 37, lost his job as layoffs and salary freezes have spiked at law firms across the country during the past three months. 

Rather than just hand out a severance package with the pink slip, Foley Hoag gave Dineen an option. He could work for Greater Boston Legal Services, a legal aid group serving people living in poverty. The firm agreed to pay Dineen about a quarter of his former salary for a year. Dineen, who needed to support his wife and a newborn daughter, accepted.

"This gave me a chance to do something different with my legal career, and help out people who generally don't have access to public service," said Dineen, who now works on foreclosure cases helping victims of predatory lending."

Foley Hoag is among many megafirms across the country using the economic slump as an ideal time to lend a hand to cash-strapped public interest and legal aid firms. The massive corporate layoffs and program cuts could redirect thousands of young graduates and experienced attorneys from corporate firms into the public sector, legal experts say."

Information Session on Skadden Public Service Fellowship

Described as "a legal Peace Corps" by the Los Angeles Times, the Skadden Fellowship program was established by the law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher Flom in 1988 in recognition of the need for greater funding for graduating law students who wish to devote their professional lives to providing legal services to the poor (including the working poor), the elderly, the homeless and the disabled, as well as those deprived of their civil or human rights. The aim of the foundation is to give Fellows the freedom to pursue public interest work; thus, the Fellows create their own projects at public interest organizations with at least two lawyers on staff.

Susan Butler Plum, the administrator of the program, will be on grounds next week to give a presentation on the two-year fellowship.

Tuesday, March 24
12:00pm
SL298

Over the last 20 years, the Skadden Fellowship program has funded more than 500 academically outstanding law school graduates and judicial clerks to work full-time for legal and advocacy organizations. Since the program’s inception, almost 90 percent of the Fellows have remained in public interest or public sector work after finishing their fellowships.

Skadden Fellowships are awarded for two years. Skadden provides each Fellow with a salary and pays all fringe benefits to which an employee of the sponsoring organization would be entitled. For those Fellows not covered by a law school low income protection plan, the firm will pay a Fellow's law school debt service for the tuition part of the loan for the duration of the fellowship.

The Skadden Fellowship Program is one of the most competitive and prestigious public interest fellowship programs in the country. In Janurary, 3L Rebecca Vallas's profound public interest and academic accomplishments were recognized with the award of a Skadden Fellowship, and numerous UVA Law alumni have participated in the program.

All classes are invited to the presentation. However, second years considering applying for this prestigious fellowship are highly encouraged to attend.

Family Alternative Dispute Resolution Clinic Featured in Daily Progress

This week, Charlottesville’s Daily Progress highlighted the work of the Family Alternative Dispute Resolution Clinic here at UVA Law in an article discussing the weakened economy’s impact on family law. Beginning in the spring semester, the Virginia Pro Bono Program introduced the new clinic to the law school, and eleven students are currently enrolled and learning about the collaborative divorce process and mediation’s role in family law. The law school received a grant from Jessie Ball duPont Fund to fund the clinic

Quoted in the recent article, Dean Emery, head of the Pro Bono Program at Virginia, stated that "[m]ediation really is a way to save money, keep kids out of the middle and put the power back in the hands of the parents,” Emery said. “Judges hear what they can hear in a short period, but you don’t want a third party to make those decisions for you.”

View the entire article here.

Law students enrolled in the clinic take the Virginia Supreme Court certified 20-hours Basic Mediation Skills training and receive additional training in family mediation. Trained students will co-mediate family cases referred from the Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court and the Central Virginia Legal Aid Society. Students also participate in collaborative law cases on behalf of indigent clients with family law issues.

Pro Bono Opportunity with D.C. Public Defender Service

The D.C. Public Defender Service is seeking a volunteer to provide assistance on a legislative project involving juvenile justice. The project relates to these types of offenses.

Ideally, one student would undertake the project but the assignment can be divided into three sub-projects. The first and second sub-projects will require no more than 8 hours; the third, no more than 2-3 hours.

The project is set to be completed on April 3.

To Apply: please submit a resume and short statement of interest to lawprobono@virginia.edu by Thursday, March 19, 2009, at 5:00 pm.

This project satisfies the 75-hour Pro Bono Challenge.

Pro Bono Opportunity with Lenhart Obenshain (Family Law)

Lenhart Obenshain, P.C. is seeking a student volunteer to provide research assistance on a pro bono family law case involving an asylum matter (stemming from a claim of fear of persecution in a southeast Asian country).

The estimated time commitment is 10 hours total and the project must be completed by March 26. The supervising attorney is a double-hoo (obtained both his undergraduate and law degrees from Virginia).

To Apply: please submit a resume and short statement of interest to lawprobono@virginia.edu by Thursday, March 19, 2009, at 5:00 pm.

This project satisfies the 75-hour Pro Bono Challenge.

The Mortimer Caplin Public Service Center Welcomes Admitted Students to North Grounds

Welcome to Virginia Law!  Yared Getachew, Director of Public Service, and Rebecca Vallas, President of Public Interest Law Association, will give a presentation in WB 126, between 2:25 and 3:20.

The Center is located in Slaughter Hall, Room 245, on the second floor.  Please stop by with your questions.  We look forward to meeting as many of you as possible.

Mediation Pro Bono Project

 The Mediation Center of Charlottesville is seeking a student volunteer to help with client orientations, screenings, and updates over the phone. The clients are generally referred by the Juvenile & Domestic Relations Courts (Albemarle, Charlottesville, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa). Their cases involve disputes related to custody, visitation, and child support. 

The work, which will be ongoing, involves speaking with people who are often under stress; patience and a good sense of humor is needed. They would like to have a student begin volunteering now and if possible continue into the summer. If the student cannot continue into the summer, they will try to find another volunteer for the summer. The volunteer will be expected to work 4-8 hours a week, though the schedule is flexible.

The volunteer will need to have a car.  Finally, the Mediation Center hopes that students that have taken a course in Domestic Relations will apply.

To Apply:  Interested students should submit a resume and short statement of interest to lawprobono@virginia.edu by Monday, March 16, 2009, at 5:00 pm.

Image courtesy  | This project satisfies the 75-hour Pro Bono Challenge.

Call for Claire Corcoran Award Nominations

The PILA Board is accepting nominations for the 2009 Claire M. Corcoran Award.  The Award was established in 1990 through 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 second-year 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 student will receive a cash prize of $1,500; should two students receive the Award, they will receive $750 each.

Students, staff and faculty wishing to nominate a student should submit a written statement of no more than 500 words to Rebecca Vallas, PILA President, at rvallas@virginia.edu by Monday, March 30, 2009.

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 30, 2009.

Attend the Annual Law Student Conference on Public Interest Litigation in Washington, D.C., July 23-26, 2009

 Each year, the Institute for Justice, the nation’s leading libertarian public interest law firm, brings 40 top law students to Washington, D.C., to attend its acclaimed Law Student Conference and learn how to use law as a force for freedom. Though many conference alumni go on to private practice and other avenues outside the public interest field, they apply the conference’s lessons in their careers and often work on pro bono cases to advance the cause of liberty.

IJ holds its acclaimed conference in Washington, DC the last weekend in July at George Washington University. Forty students will be chosen to take part in a four-day conference on shaping the world through the IJ way of public interest litigation.

To apply, visit the conference website. Travel scholarships are available for a limited number of students accepted into the program. Applications are accepted through March 10, 2009

The annual conference covers IJ's four litigation pillars: First Amendment rights, school choice, economic liberty and private property rights.  These topics are taught alongside others rarely discussed in law school, such as: natural rights theory, public interest litigation tactics, cutting-edge constitutional theories, media skills, and the use of social science research.

The faculty combines IJ attorneys and staff members with leading law professors and legal experts including Douglas W. Kmiec, Randy Barnett, Roger Pilon, and Todd Zywicki. This year's conference keynote speaker will be Justice Don Willet of the Texas Supreme Court.  After attending this crash course in public interest law, the IJ Way, participants are able to recognize and seize public interest opportunities in the future.

View the attached flier more for information: Download IJ Conference_2009

PMF Class of 2009 Finalists Posted

Attention Presidential Management Fellows Program applicants: the U.S. Office of Personnel Management has selected 786 finalists for the class of 2009. The following announcement is posted on the official PMF site:

Notices will be sent to all nominees, via email, on whether or not selected as finalists starting around 9:00pm (Eastern Time), Thursday, 03-05-09. There are over 4,200 emails going out and it make take several hours to a couple of days before all nominees are informed. The PMF website will soon go down to upload 2009 finalists' data and resumes. Those selected as finalists are encouraged to review ALL the Job Fair information on the "Fellows\Job Fair Information for Finalists" webpage and utilize the "Online RSVP System" to indicate their participation to the Job Fair (the RSVP system will launch at Midnight (Thursday, 03-05-09, evening) and close 03-16-09. The PMF Program Office was able to arrange various discounts for airfare and hotels (see the "Finalists Job Fair Overview" for details). Any inquiries about the selection process should be sent via email to pmf@opm.gov. All agencies will be notified on Monday, 03-09-09, of the selction of finalists. We will also send a broadcast email to the academia community announcing the selection of finalists.

Selected UVA Law students/alumni are urged to contact the Public Service Center immediately to discuss the next step in the selection process. 

Interested in Pro Bono work at private law firms?

The Virginia Law Pro Bono Program will present a unique opportunity on March 12, 2009 for students  interested in pro bono work at private law firms. Gregory A. McConnell (bio) Director of Public Interest Law and Pro Bono Counsel at Winston & Strawn LLP and Marc R. Kadish (bio), Director of Pro Bono Activities and Litigation Training for Mayer Brown, both oversee the pro bono activities of their respective firms and will be on hand to offer 30-minute informational sessions to students who have questions about pro bono work in law firms and how that work can influence their careers. These will NOT be interviews for employment opportunities.

Students who would like the opportunity to meet with Mr. McConnell and Mr. Kadish should submit a statement of interest to lawprobono@virginia.edu by Tuesday, March 10, at 5:00pm. Students selected for an informational session, will be contacted by the Public Service Center to arrange a meeting time. Please note, informational sessions will be scheduled around a student's classes.

The image.

Buffett Fellowships for Summer 2009

The Center for Children, Families, and the Law is now accepting applications for Buffett Fellowships for Children the Summer of 2009. 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. 

A listing of past and present fellows is available on the CCFL website. Although not predetermined, there are a limited number of fellowships available for law students for the Summer of 2009.

Applicants are encouraged to think broadly and creatively in applying for the Buffett fellowships. Examples of appropriate applied activity include law students working in public service settings and representing children and/or families, or clinical psychology graduate students working as therapists with children and/or families in need.

Less obvious but still appropriate applications might include: economics or business students who plan to assist a child welfare or family agency with fund raising or financial management, or 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.

Applicants are asked to submit: resume, description of the project, and a letter from a faculty member or other individual willing to supervise the practical experience.

Please visit the CCFL website for more information on the specific application requirements.

Applications will be accepted at any time, but suggested guidelines are: immediately for any ongoing practicum; April 1 for the summer. Determinations of awards will be made within one month of receipt of applications.

Submit applications to:

Erin Horn,Center for Children, Families, and the Law
Department of Psychology
University of Virginia
102 Gilmer Hall
PO Box 400400
Charlottesville, VA 22904-4400

Recipients of the Buffett Fellowships will be expected to contact the donor directly (in the form of a letter) before and following the fellowship, and are encouraged to take part in other Center activities. Questions about the fellowships or application procedures should be directed to Center Director, Robert Emery, or the Center Administrator, Erin Horn.

National Black Prosecutors Association Annual Job Fair, July 21, 2009

The National Black Prosecutors Association (NBPA) is pleased to announce its upcoming Annual Job Fair on Tuesday, July 21, 2009 at the Marriot Memphis Downtown in Memphis, Tennessee. 

The goal of the National Black Prosecutors Association’s (NBPA) Job Fair is to promote diversity in prosecutors’ offices by providing a forum where law students, recent law graduates, and experienced attorneys from across the nation can meet and interview with prospective prosecutorial employers at the local, state, and federal levels.The NBPA, established in 1983, is a professional member organization comprised of over 800 prosecutors. NBPA's mission is to recruit, train, and advance the careers of minority attorneys as prosecutors at all levels of government. It's annual convention serves, not only as a job fair forum, but as a comprehensive legal training program for prosecutors. 

Attached is a letter containing more information about the Job Fair, as well as the applicant registration form and a list of employers who have participated in past Job Fairs.

Download NBPA Job Fair Prospective Participant Letter

Download NBPA List of Participating Employers

Download Applicant Registration Form 2009

For more information, visit the NBPA website.

PSLawNet: The Online Resource for Public Service Legal Careers

Still looking for internship or permanent opportunities in the public interest? Search among thousands of opportunities and employer organization profiles on Public Service Law Network (“PSLawNet”), an invaluable resource for students interested in public interest opportunities.

The online database boasts internships, fellowships, and permanent positions in addition to 11,000 organizational profiles for employers across varied public interest fields and locations. Moreover, PSLawNet offers several extremely helpful tools for registered users making the search for public interest opportunities easier than ever.

Found something but not ready to act on it? Flag and store opportunities and profiles for later viewing. Still searching? Receive email alerts containing newly posted opportunities that match your preselected criteria.

How to Register for PSLawNet?  As a Virginia Law student, you can create a PSLawNet account for free. Registering is quick and easy. Visit the homepage and click on “Job Seekers.”  After filling out your contact information, PSLawNet will send you an email with a link to activate your account and you will have thousands of public service opportunities at your fingertips.

Social Justice Jobs in Community Organizing Available to UVA Graduating Students and Alums!

The Direct Action & Research Training (DART) Center is now accepting applications for the 2009 DART Organizers Institute, the paid, four-month field school for people interested in launching a career in community organizing. 

DART will be on UVA grounds on Thursday, March 12 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Marks Lutheran Church, 100 Alderman, (across the street from grounds) to discuss careers in the field of community organizing, and to schedule interviews with students interested in empowering their communities and working for social change.

Please RSVP by contacting Sunil Joy at sunil@thedartcenter.org or calling 785.841.2680 with your name, phone number, and email address. 

Participants will undergo a combined classroom and field training covering such topics as entering a community, Identifying and training local leaders, Strategic planning and issue cutting, Relationship and community building, Direct Action on community issues, and Fundraising

The DART Center, has built coalitions throughout the country that have won important victories on a broad set of justice issues including: Education reform in low-performing public schools, Job Training,  Drugs and Violence, Criminal Recidivism, Living Wage, Neighborhood Revitalization, Predatory Lending, Affordable Housing, etc.

The DART Organizers Institute combines a 7-day classroom orientation with 15 weeks of infield training at a DART host organization. This is a paid training program that includes: a $7,000 living stipend, transportation to the classroom orientation and host city, and mileage reimbursement during the infield training. Room, board, and tuition will also be paid by DART during the 7-day classroom training. After successful completion of the program, DART will work to place graduates into permanent full time salaried positions ranging from ($27-30,000/year for Associate Organizers and $30-34,000 for Lead Organizers). 

Graduates from the four month DART Organizers Institute have gone onto accept Executive Director and Associate Community Organizing positions throughout the country.

The 7-day classroom orientation and 15 week infield training starts July 12, 2009 and runs through November 7, 2009. Training locations will include placements in several states around the country.

Although it may be helpful, no direct experience is necessary. Organizer Trainees (OTs) hired to participate in the DART Organizers Institute must demonstrate a desire to pursue community organizing as a long-term professional career. A master's degree or similar life experience is preferred though unnecessary. Candidates must have a college degree or be graduating prior to June 1, 2009. 

Also, candidates must display a workmanlike diligence, be driven to produce sustained results, have proven capacity to build relationships of trust, create and execute a plan, act professionally, feel comfortable working with religious institutions, be accountable and willing to hold others accountable, demonstrate disciplined thought and action, and work in a team setting.  OTs must also have access to a car during their training and be flexible regarding relocation. Fluency in Spanish/English is a plus and people of color are encouraged to apply.

To find out more about DART or to apply, we encourage you to send your resume to: Sunil Joy, DART Network, 820 New York Street Lawrence, KS 66044 or by email: sunil@thedartcenter.org. If you have any questions, please call: (785) 841-2680. Also, you can download applications or view profiles from previous OTs at the DART website.

Students may also wish to download the attached flier (pdf), which contains more details on the information session: Download Community Organizers Wanted @ UVA.