Public Works

Battle

By YARED GETACHEW

In counseling sessions and through speaker events featuring prosecutors and public defenders, we have maintained that the path to charting a career toward both professions, despite the divergent outcomes that prosecutors and indigent defenders seek in their pursuit of justice, is very similar. Competition for entry-level positions, even in a flush economy, is downright brutal. But here's a reality that Virginia Law students have enjoyed for decades: 3Ls who remained steadfast in their pursuit of their dream jobs have all secured employment either through competitive 3L hiring programs or soon after they pass the bar exam.  Just so everyone is clear - and I field this question each year: 3Ls and graduating students are not eligible to apply for entry-level positions with federal defender and US Attorney organizations (two exceptions for the latter - USAOs for the Southern and Central Districts of CA - see, e.g.).

So why is student preparation for both careers almost identical?  The ultimate conclusion both prosecutor and public defender offices must reach when making hiring decisions is whether candidate have engaged in sustained efforts to: (1) understand substantive and procedural concepts in criminal, constitutional, and evidentiary law (take as many crim law-related courses offered at Virginia including the two key clinics); (2) hone oral advocacy skills (moot court, oral advocacy classes); (3) understand the day-to-day work of attorneys, detectives, investigators, parole and probation officers in our criminal justice system (summer internships and pro bono work); (4) show commitment to service (see 2-4 above and any volunteer endeavor - for indigent defenders, a desire to work with underserved communities is important); (5) some indicia of geographic connection; and (6) express compelling reasons to pursue either law enforcement or indigent defense work.

On Tuesday, February 8, two speakers - a prosecutor and a public defender -  will expound on these issues while attempting to convince you to join their side.  Joseph Platania is Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney in Charlottesville and Adam Heyman is public defender at the Brooklyn Legal Aid Society, Criminal Practice. Mr. Platania is currently detailed with the United States Attorney's Office, Western District of Virginia, and Mr. Heyman recently returned from Kathmandu, Nepal where he helped represent indigent defendants in Nepal's courts.

The event will take place at 1:00pm in WB154.

Current issues in indigent defense and prison systems

by YARED GETACHEW

This is for those of you interviewing with indigent defense, civil legal services, and law enforcement organizations. Last year, I referred to a television report in NYC discussing how state budget cuts and rising caseloads have affected the work of public defenders.  The Constitution Project's recent interview with Steve Hanlon below picks up on two aspects of our criminal justice system - the dramatic increase in the number of people entering our prisons and the impact of this spike on school systems.  Being conversant on these issues would go a long way toward showing employers your awareness of important issues regarding our criminal justice system and your commitment to public service. Hanlon is a partner at Holland & Knight and chairs the Constitution Project's Board of Directors.

Philadelphia District Attorney: September 27, 2010

By YARED GETACHEW

Please join us for a brown bag presentation with the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office on September 27, 2010, at noon, in a room to be soon announced.  Our guest is Kelley B. Hodge, Chief of the DA Office's Municipal Court Division.  Ms. Hodge will discuss her career path and offer advice on what it takes to become a prosecutor in large urban DA offices. Following a Q & A session, I will follow with brief remarks and advice to upper-class students interested in pursuing careers in prosecution and law enforcement.

The Philly DA's Office is one of the largest prosecutor offices in the nation.  Organized into 5 divisions - Trials, Investigations, Juvenile, Law, and Narcotics, the office has a staff of more than 600 who prosecute more than 75,000 cases each year.

This session is open to ALL students. 

New York County District Attorney's Office: September 24, 2010

By YARED GETACHEW

Please join the Mortimer Caplin Public Service Center for a brown bag presentation with Tom Wornom ('83) from the New York County District Attorney's Office on September 24, 2010, 12:00-1:00PM in SL258.

Tom Wornom is Chief of Special Prosecutions and will discuss the day-to-day work of Manhattan district attorneys and will offer advice on how students should apply and prepare for internship and permanent positions in Manhattan and with other boroughs in NYC.  

All classes are welcome.

2010 Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair

By Yared Getachew

The EJW Conference and Career Fair, the largest annual gathering of public interest and government employers in the nation, will be held this year Friday and Saturday, October 22 and 23, in Bethesda, Maryland. More than 150 public service/interest employers will be available to conduct prescheduled interviews for hundreds of internship and permanent positions throughout the country. 

The conference sessions will provide a venue where participants can learn about various careers in the public interest.  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 2009 program book and the list of employers who participated here.

After the jump: (1) information for Virginia Law students on how to participate in the Conference and Career Fair; (2) information on how 1Ls (Class of 2013) may participate in this event.

Get your Third Year Practice Certificate

By Yared Getachew

A Third Year Practice Certificate allows students to appear in court (and before  administrative tribunals) in the Commonwealth of Virginia and in other jurisdictions.  The certificate allows 3Ls to engage in substantial legal work while in law school (clinics and pro bono) - a must if you're considering entry-level opportunities in the

public interest.

To be eligible, in addition to being a 3L (you must have completed at least four semesters in law school and passed Civil Procedure and Criminal Law), you only need to have completed two electives: Evidence and Professional Responsibility.  I'm available to answer questions about the certificate but to apply, contact the Virginia Law Student Records Office.

FYI - the VA Supreme Court Student Practice Rule is available here.

National Black Prosecutors Association Annual Job Fair, July 20, 2010

by YARED GETACHEW

The National Black Prosecutors Association (NBPA) will hold its Annual Job Fair on Tuesday,  July 20, 2010, in San Fransisco, CA, as part of this year's annual conference. Established in 1983, NBPA is a professional member organization comprised of over 800 prosecutors. The organization's mission is to recruit, train, and advance the careers of minority attorneys as prosecutors at all levels of government. The annual convention serves, not only as a job fair forum, but as a comprehensive legal training program for prosecutors.

This year's conference will focus on the topic Beyond Tough on Crime: Bold Innovations for Safer Communities, and marks the 27th year of the conference. NBPA has made a list of attending employers available here.

Registration is available online for both the job fair and conference.  The event is open to all students.

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.

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.

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)