Clinical Law Prof Blog

Syracuse Law: Professors Roberts and Swartz Promoted to Associate Professor

Professor Mary McNeal, Clinical Director at Syracuse Law, recently shared good news with the clinical law community:

I am happy to announce the promotions of Jenny Roberts, Director of our Criminal  Defense Clinic, and Michael Schwartz, Director of our Disability Rights Clinic, to the rank of Associate Professor.  Syracuse has a unitary tenure track, and both are well on their way. Congratulations, Jenny and Michael.

-jl

ABA Tax Section Reminders: 2009 May Meeting in DC and Volunteers Needed for Tax Prep Sites

From the ABA Tax Section eNewsletter:

It’s more important than ever to attend the Section of Taxation’s 2009 May Meeting, May 7th-9th in Washington, DC. You’ll hear the latest on the tax aspects of the economic stimulus package, and how plans to ease the credit crunch and stimulate spending will affect the practice of tax. New and proposed tax regulations will be the topic of discussion for much of the CLE, and you will have the opportunity to hear from private practitioners as well as government representatives on current issues in tax law. Earn valuable CLE and ethics credits and network with colleagues. More Information Coming Soon ...

Additionally, it is a tax attorney's favorite time of the year: Tax Season.  The ABA Tax Section encourages attorneys to donate time to a local Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. For more details on the VITA program and how to get involved, visit the Section website.

-jl

DC Courts - Director of Domestic Violence Program

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES: The Director of the Domestic Violence Program provides overall administrative coordination and policy direction to effectively accomplish the mission of the Program. Develops, organizes, coordinates, directs and evaluates the policies, programs, personnel and procurement needs of each Program branch. Reviews all Program forms for conformity with existing rules and designs new forms as rules are amended or adopted. Reviews, analyzes and interprets pertinent District of Columbia and United States Codes, decisions of the US Supreme Court and the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, and Federal Rules relating to court procedures; confers with and recommends to Judges and the Clerk of the Court passage, amendment or withdrawal of proposed legislation on relevant domestic violence issues. Prepares and submits monthly, annual and special statistical reports of the Program’s activities to, and conducts research in order to respond to written or oral inquiries from, the Chief Judge, Executive Officer, Clerk of the Court and Judges assigned to the Program. Responsible for staff development and training, program evaluation, budget direction, divisional procurement and management of staff.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: A Bachelor's degree in business or public administration, court management, criminal justice, or other relevant field, plus six (6) years of senior level management experience in planning, administering and evaluating programs in a court or relevant social service environment. An advanced degree in a related field can be substituted for up to two years of required experience. Documentation of education must be submitted with your application. Please submit a copy of your most recent performance evaluation, if available, with your application.

SUPPLEMENTAL RANKING FACTORS: The following factors will be used to rate candidates' qualifications for the position. All applicants MUST respond to each ranking factor on separate sheets of paper. Please describe experience or education which indicates your level of qualification for each factor. Failure to respond to the ranking factors will disqualify you from further consideration.
1. Ability to analyze and interpret the District of Columbia Codes, United States Codes, decisions of the Unites States Supreme Court and the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, and Federal Rules of Procedure, as well as recently passed or proposed legislature, related to pertinent Program and Court issues.
2. Ability to conduct legal research and prepare recommendations on legal, legislative, or procedural issues pertaining to Program operations.
3. Ability to prepare, justify and present budget requests.
4. Ability to communicate, orally and in writing, and to establish and maintain effective and confidential working relationships with a wide variety of personnel, such as judges, court managers and administrators, attorneys, government agencies, judicial agencies and the public.
5. Ability to select, train, supervise and manage staff in the performance of court related functions.

SELECTION PROCESS: After a review of applications and ranking factors, interviews, writing samples and/or further screening may be required of the highest qualified candidates. Selecting officials will conduct reference checks and may consider corrective action files and performance appraisals before making a final selection.

Submit D.C. Courts Application and Ranking Factor Responses: Mail to D.C. Courts, Human Resources Division, 500 Indiana Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20001; FAX to (202)879-4212; or Hand-deliver to D.C. Courts, HR Division, Gallery Place (7th Street, NW between H & F Streets), Sixth Floor, Washington, D.C. For a court application, call (202) 879-0496 or visit our website.

-jl

Call for Proposals by the Workshop Program Committee for the AALS Section on Academic Support

The following was emailed to us for posting:

2010 AALS Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana

Annual Meeting Dates:  January 6-10, 2010

The theme of our 2010 AALS workshop will be:

 “Transforming Learning in the Classroom:
the 21^st Century Law Professor”

 The AALS Section on Academic Support will showcase how professors are transforming the learning environment of their classrooms through innovative and creative methods.  Many of these methods  have their roots in traditional academic support tenets of varying lesson plans to reach different learning styles, providing feedback throughout the semester, assessing students in creative ways, engaging students both in and out of the classroom, and encouraging students to take responsibility for their own learning.   The committee requests proposals that demonstrate modern classroom and teaching techniques including but not limited to: active learning activities, teaching assessment procedures, exam drafting, skills development in doctrinal courses, and innovative lesson plans.  Show us what’s new and different in legal education in the 21^st century! 

 The Program Committee will give preference to presentations designed to engage the workshop audience, so proposals should contain a detailed explanation of both the substance of the presentation and the interactive methods to be employed.  In addition, we would like to highlight talent across a spectrum of law schools and will look for variety in presentations and presenters.  If you do not have a proposal to submit, but are interested in participating in a presentation, please contact Emily Randon (see below), as assistance with the overall workshop is always welcome.

 Based on participant numbers for the last several years, we anticipate over 100 people attending the program.  To assist the presenters in the interactive piece, the program committee members and other volunteers will be on hand to act as facilitators with audience members.

 Proposals must include the following information:

1.  A title for your presentation

2.  A brief description of the objectives or outcomes of your presentation.

3.  A brief description of how your presentation will support your stated objectives or outcomes.

4.  The amount of time allocated for your presentation and for the interactive exercise.  No single presenter should exceed 45 minutes in total time allowed.  Presentations as short as 15 minutes will be acceptable.

5.  A detailed description of how the presentation will be interactive.

6.  Whether you plan to distribute handouts, use PowerPoint, or employ other technology.

7.  A list of the conferences at which you have presented within the last three years, such as AALS, national or regional ASP or writing conferences, or other academic conferences.  (The committee is interested in this information because we wish to select and showcase seasoned, as well as fresh, talent.)

8.  Your school affiliation, title, courses taught, and contact information (include email address and telephone number).

9.  Any articles or books that you have published describing the lesson you will be demonstrating.

Send proposals by Monday, March 9, 2009 to Prof. Emily Randon, University of California, Davis School of Law, at the email address of elrandon@ucdavis.edu. If you have questions, feel free to contact Emily Randon directly at 530-752-3434.

If you know of colleagues who are true innovators in techniques that achieve the objectives of the academic support community, please encourage them to submit proposals!

We look forward to seeing you in New Orleans!

The ASP Section Program Committee:

Emily Randon, Chair
Robin Boyle Laisure
Hillary Burgess
Barbara McFarland
Kathy Garcia
ASP Section Chair:  Pavel Wonsowicz

ARTICLE: 'I' Before 'E', Except in Mediation

Kelly Anders teaches Mediation, Interviewing & Counseling, and Professional Responsibility and is the Associate Dean for Student Affairs at Washburn University School of Law.  Her article, ‘I’ Before ‘E’, Except in Mediation: Training Introverts to Use Extroverted Techniques to Become Stronger Mediators, will be published this year in the Oklahoma City University Law Review. Abstract & SSRN Link below.

SSRN: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1313344

ABSTRACT:
Little research has been conducted on the personality types of law professors and others who train law students and lawyers to work as mediators, but if the assessments of attorneys and students are any indication, it is likely that professors and other instructors probably tend to fall into the "introvert" category. As a result, several questions arise. How important is a feelings-centered approach in order to be an effective mediator? Can introverts teach other introverts to behave as extroverts? Which traits of introverts and extroverts are most valuable for mediators to possess? And, can a mediator be sensitive to the parties' feelings on either side and remain neutral?

This article discusses traits of introverts and extroverts, provides examples of mediation training techniques that strengthen the extroverted traits most beneficial for effective mediators, and concludes by suggesting methods for law schools and other mediation training programs to consider in developing students into mediators with balanced introverted and extroverted skills.

AALS Clinical Section Newsletter - Deadline for Submissions

Professor Kimberly O'Leary, who serves as the AALS Clinical Section newsletter editor has posted the following announcement:

The deadline for submissions to the spring edition of the AALS Section on Clinical Legal Education is Monday, April 13.  Please e-mail items of reasonable length to me. Items can include:
--stories about your clinics or your students
--promotions, new hires, honors, awards
--publications by clinicians
--committee reports
--information of interest related to the clinical conference May 5-9 in Cleveland
--any other items of interest to clinical legal educators

Due to an increasing number of lengthy press releases, I ask that you edit your material about your schools to a reasonable length; I reserve the right to cut back any article.  We love hearing about what you are all doing, but for example six pages about one program is too long! I look forward to hearing from you.

-jl

Jennifer Rosato Named New Dean at NIU College of Law

Jennifer Rosato comes to NIU from Drexel University in Philadelphia where she was part of the administrative team that created and launched the Earle Mack School of Law. She served as acting dean during the schools first year of operation (July 2006-April 2007) and was a consultant on the project for a year prior. The experience she gained in those roles, Rosato says, will be useful when she takes over the top spot at NIU Law on July 1, 2009. The insights she gleaned in helping to open the doors at Drexel, combined with her outstanding record of scholarship and leadership in nearly two decades as a legal educator, make her a wonderful candidate to assume the mantle of leadership at NIU Law.

For her part, Rosato says that the NIU job was attractive for a number of reasons. One of the aspects that appealed to her was NIU Laws commitment to diversity. "I have benefitted greatly from increased opportunities that others worked to create in the legal profession. I am excited to become part of those efforts at NIU Law, which has long been a leader in expanding access to legal education," says Rosato, who will become one of only two Latina law school deans in the nation and the second woman to hold the title of dean at NIU Law. The school received the 2007 Diversity Award from the Council on Legal Education Opportunity and has been ranked in the top 10 for faculty diversity by the Princeton Review for the past four years. The colleges long history of preparing students for careers in public interest law also fits well with her belief in emphasizing service in the legal profession. As dean, she pledges to work to find new opportunities for the college to interact with and serve the university and the broader community.

Prior to her time at Drexel, Rosato was the associate dean for Student Affairs at Brooklyn Law School, where she also served as co-director of the Center for Health, Science and Public Policy and as professor of law. She began teaching at Brooklyn in 1992, and before that taught at Villanova University School of Law. Since entering the academy, she also has taught at University of Pennsylvania Law School and New York University School of Law. Her scholarship focuses on diverse legal issues that affect children and families, with an emphasis on issues related to bioethics. Rosato earned her J.D. degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where she was editor-in-chief of the University of Pennsylvania Journal of International Business Law and won the Edwin R. Keedy Moot Court Competition. She clerked for the Hon. Thomas N. ONeill Jr. of the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, before becoming an associate with Hangley, Connolly, Epstein, Chicco, Foxman & Ewing.

-jl

Georgetown Law: The Intersection of Juvenile Justice and Poverty

The Georgetown Journal on Poverty Law & Policy, American Constitution Society for Law & Policy, Center for Juvenile Justice Reform, Georgetown University, and Georgetown Law Center Juvenile Justice Clinic will present a symposium: The Intersection of Juvenile Justice and Poverty, Thursday, March 26, 2009, from 1:00 – 5:30 pm with a reception to follow.

It is widely recognized that the conditions of poverty affecting many children across the United States are a significant factor in juvenile offending, but there has been little scholarship on the ways that juvenile justice and poverty interrelate.  On March 26, 2009, the Georgetown Journal on Poverty Law and Policy, the American Constitution Society for Law and Policy, the Center for Juvenile Justice Reform at Georgetown University, and the Georgetown Law Center Juvenile Justice Clinic are co-sponsoring a symposium that explores this theme from several angles.  Three panels and a keynote address will examine how the social factors that often accompany low socio-economic status can fuel patterns of offending and reoffending, how youth with different levels of wealth frequently have very different experiences within the juvenile justice system, and what strategies can be employed both within and outside the juvenile justice system to break the cycle of offending and poverty.  The symposium will feature presentations by the authors of forthcoming articles that will be published in the Georgetown Journal on Poverty Law & Policy, as well as discussion among these authors and other experts on various dimensions of the intersection of juvenile justice and poverty.

Agenda:

1:00 pm  Opening Remarks - Peter Edelman, Professor, Georgetown University Law Center

1:15 pm Keynote Address:  “The Paradox of Juvenile Justice and Poverty” Robert Schwartz, Exec. Dir., Juvenile Law Ctr

1:45 - 3:00 pm   Panel One: Supports for At-Risk Youth:  Education, Health, and Housing

·   Moderator: James Forman, Professor, Georgetown University Law Center

·   “Addressing the Unintended Consequences of No Child Left Behind and Zero Tolerance” - Deborah Gordon Klehr, Staff Attorney, Education Law Center

·   “The Impact of Health Care for the Juvenile Justice Population” - Dr. Catherine A. Gallagher, Associate Professor, Justice, Law and Crime Policy Program, George Mason University

·   “Knock on Any Door: The Intersection of Housing and the Juvenile Justice System” - Judge Michael A. Corriero, Executive Director, Big Brothers Big Sisters of NY City

3:15 - 4:15 pm   Panel Two: Poverty and Equity in the Juvenile Justice System

·   Moderator:  Mai Fernandez, Legal and Strategy Director, Latin American Youth Center

·   “The Cost of Justice: How Low-Income Youth Pay the Price of Failing Indigent Defense Systems” - Katayoon Majd, Senior Staff Attorney, National Juvenile Defender Center

·   “Lasting Economic Consequences of Transfer Policies for Youth and Communities of Color” - Neelum Arya, Director, Research & Policy, Campaign for Youth Justice

4:30 - 5:30 pm Panel Three: Strategies for Breaking the Cycle of Offending and Poverty

·   Moderator:  Carol Chodroff, US Program Advocacy Director, Human Rights Watch

·   “Reentry and Aftercare for Incarcerated Youth” - Dr. David Altschuler, Principal Research Scientist, Johns Hopkins Institute for Policy Studies

·   “Juvenile Justice: Lessons for a New Era” - Mark Soler, Executive Director, Center for Children’s Law and Policy, and Marc Schindler, Chief of Staff, DC Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services

5:30 - 6:30 pm Reception, Thursday, March 26, 2009, Georgetown University Law Center, Gewirz Building 12th floor, 600 New Jersey Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20001

Register for the symposium online. This event is free and open to the public.  Please contact Kate Rhudy at with any questions about the symposium. -jl

Suffolk Law: Visiting Clinical Professor, Spring 2010

Suffolk University Law School is seeking an experienced Visiting Clinical Professor of Law to teach in the Family Advocacy Clinic for the 2010 spring semester. The Professor will be responsible for classroom substantive law and skills teaching, student supervision, and other related duties. The Family Advocacy Clinic represents individuals in contested family cases including divorce, custody, child support, paternity and guardianship.  The clinic works in collaboration with and provides on site representation, training and resources to a local domestic violence program.

Clinical faculty from other law schools are especially encouraged to apply. Applicants must either be a member of the Massachusetts Bar or eligible for admission to practice in Massachusetts (a local practice rule allows most out-of-state clinicians to practice for up to two years representing indigent clients).  Applicants should also have at least five years of litigation practice and/or teaching experience.

This is a one semester position beginning January 4, 2010, and ending June 30, 2010. Suffolk University is an equal opportunity employer and particularly encourages applications from women and minorities.

To apply, please send a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, and a list of three references to Professor Ilene Seidman, Acting Director of Clinical Programs, Suffolk University Law School, 120 Tremont Street, Boston, MA  02108-4977. Review of candidates will be completed by March 9, 2009. -jl

Effective Lawyering - The Meditative Perspective

The Center for Contemplative Mind in Society, the Bar Association of San Francisco, and Spirit Rock Meditation Center present Effective Lawyering: The Meditative Perspective A Meditation Retreat for Law Professionals and Students, April 2-5, 2009, (Thursday afternoon through Sunday midday) with James Baraz, Norman Fischer, Charlie Halpern, Edith Politis, and Judi Cohen at Spirit Rock Meditation Center Woodacre, California. MCLE Credits: 5 hours

Mindfulness meditation can provide a practical tool for busy legal professionals to enhance their law practice, quiet the mind, increase clarity and awareness, and restore a more peaceful balance to their lives. This program will include meditation instruction and practice, and will explore the interplay between contemplative and legal practices and the role meditation has played in enriching the professional lives of lawyers. The program is appropriate for beginners and experienced meditators.

The leadership for the retreat is comprised of senior meditation teachers and lawyers with substantial experience in both law and meditation practice. Cost: Sliding scale of $275 - $425, which includes meals and accommodations. Scholarships are available for people of color as well as separate scholarships based on need. Register online with Spirit Rock. For more information, visit the Spirit Rock website, or contact the Law Program Director at the Center for Contemplative Mind in Society. -jl

ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund

The ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund will award $5,000 of financial assistance annually to each scholarship recipient attending an ABA-accredited law school. The mission of the Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund is to encourage racial and ethnic minority students to apply to law school and to provide financial assistance to ensure that these students have the opportunity to attend law school for three years. An award made to an entering first-year student may be renewable for two additional years, resulting in financial assistance totaling $15,000 during his or her time in law school.  Although each recipient will need to re-apply for the scholarship in his or her second and third year, the expectation is that the scholarship will be renewed each year if satisfactory performance in law school has been achieved, the student is otherwise eligible, and funding is available.

In addition to whether the applicant is a member of a racial and/or ethnic minority that has been underrepresented in the legal profession, the applicant’s financial need; personal, family, and educational background; personal statement; and participation in community service activities will be considered in selecting the recipients of the ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarships.  It is important for every applicant to complete all portions of the application.  Financial information for the applicant and his or her parents is required to evaluate the applicant’s financial need.  A committee of ABA members will select the recipients.  The decisions of the committee are final.

Deadline: ALL completed applications must be received on or before March 2, 2009.  Faxed applications will not be accepted.  Incomplete applications will not be accepted.  An application packet is available here and more information about the scholarship is available here.

-jl

University of Wisconsin - Consumer Law Clinic Victory

Professor Marsha Mansfield, the Director of the Economic Justice Institute at the University of Wisconsin Law School recently shared the following victory with the clinical law community:

"I am very proud to share the news of a great victory by our Consumer Law Clinic at the U.W. Law School. Yesterday a circuit court judge approved a settlement in a class action against Tremont Financial, LLC, an internet payday lender. This case started in 2007 and was capably handled by our Consumer Clinic students, directed first by Steve Meili and then his successor Sarah Orr. The state of Wisconsin joined the action to enforce the Wisconsin Consumer Act. The class is 134 members and, as part of the settlement, Tremont has ceased lending operations in Wisconsin and has agreed to write off any outstanding amounts owed (principal and fees), file satisfactions of any judgments obtained in collecting these sums, contact any consumer reporting agency to which it reported negative information and request deletion of that information. In addition, Tremont will pay damages to the named plaintiff and the class, attorneys fees and costs. This is a significant victory in a state where pay day loans are all too common."

-jl

Fordham Law - Overcoming Barriers to Immigrant Representation

On March 11, 2009, Fordham Law School will host a conference entitled Overcoming Barriers to Immigrant Representation: Exploring Solutions. Details: 2009 ROBERT L. LEVINE LECTURE, March 11, 2009, 4-8 p.m. Location: McNally Amphitheater. Click here to register.

AGENDA

4-6 p.m.: Panel discussion, Moderated by the 2009 Levine Lecturer, Judge Robert A. Katzmann of the U.S.
Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Expert lawyers, academics, and government officials will outline the scope and nature of the crisis in meeting the representation needs of immigrants in our justice system-and discuss possible solutions.

6-8 p.m.: Breakout sessions, Join one of three breakout groups to consider concrete steps that may overcome barriers to or facilitate the legal representation of immigrants. (When you register, please select a breakout session to join by choosing one of the groups listed in the pulldown menu under "Fees." Note: There is no charge to participate.)

Group I-Leveraging Scarce Resources: Opportunities to Increase Representation through Partnerships between the Private Bar and Public Interest Service Providers

Group II-Assessing Systematic Change: Addressing Institutional Barriers to Quality Representation for Immigrants in New York Immigration Courts

Group III-Regulating Immigration Legal Providers: Inadequate Representation and Attorney/Notario Fraud

-jl

UCLA Law - The Global Arc of Justice: Sexual Orientation Law Around the World

The Global Arc of Justice: Sexual Orientation Law Around the World, will be a four-day international conference March 11-14, 2009 focusing on advances in LGBT rights around the globe. Convened by the Williams Institute, a research center on sexual orientation and gender identity law and policy at the UCLA School of Law; the International Lesbian and Gay Law Association (ILGLaw); and the City of West Hollywood; the conference will be held from March 11-14 on the UCLA campus in Los Angeles and in West Hollywood, California. The conference will offer simultaneous translation in English and Spanish.
Topics covered at the Global Arc of Justice Conference will include international efforts to advance legal recognition for same sex couples; the repeal of sodomy laws in former British Colonies; efforts by national governments to end homophobia and advance LGBT equality; implementation of the Yogyakarta Principles in litigation strategies and legal scholarship; and advancement of the rights of transgender people. Conference activities will include strategy working groups, paper presentations, plenary sessions, and various networking opportunities and celebrations.

Presenters will include openly gay national high court Justices Kirby from Australia and Zaffaroni from Venezuela and Supreme Court Justice Ram from Nepal; former president of the European Parliament Peter Schieder; co-director of South Africa’s Sonke Gender Justice Network Dean Peacock; International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission Executive Director Paula Ettelbrick; former U.S. ambassador Michael Guest; and a high-profile panel dealing with marriage rights in California.

Click here for the conference web site with registration and program information. Note today is the deadline for early registration and to secure the hotel conference rate. -jl

UNC Law - Conference on Race, Class, Gender and Ethnicity

On February 21, 2009, The University of North Carolina School of Law's Conference on Race, Class, Gender and Ethnicity is hosting its thirteenth annual conference entitled, Same-Sex Marriage and Beyond: Charting a Progressive Course. This year's conference is co-sponsored by the UNC Lambda Law Students Association. The Conference will bring legal practitioners and scholars together with activists, community members, and other academics to discuss the challenges and opportunities for the LGBTQ movement created by the struggle for same-sex marriage, and to chart a path forward for the movement and its allies. Our program will consist of four panels and two keynote speakers. The panels will examine: Marriage and Partner Recognition, Children and Parenting, Violence and the State, and Intersections.

Speakers Include:
Kevin Cathcart, Lambda Legal, New York, NY
Shannon Price Minter, National Center for Lesbian Rights, San Francisco, CA
Imani Henry, International Action Center, New York, NY
Maxine Eichner, UNC School of Law, Chapel Hill, NC
Gael Guevara, Sylvia Rivera Law Project, New York, NY
Ian Palmquist, Equality NC, Raleigh, NC
Catherine Smith, Sturm College of Law, Denver, CO
Barbara Fedders, UNC School of Law, Chapel Hill, NC
Robert Rosenwald, ACLU of Florida, Miami, FL
Aaron Morris, Immigration Equality, New York, NY
Justin Smith, Project STYLE, Chapel Hill, NC

Conference registration is $75 for CLE Credit, $20 otherwise, and free for students, unemployed, and fixed income registrants. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.

Click here to register, for directions to the law school, access to the schedule and more information.

-jl

Position Announcement: Investor Rights Clinic Fellow at Pace Law

The Investor Rights Clinic at Pace University School of Law, which represents investors with small, arbitrable disputes with their securities brokers and/or brokerage firms, is seeking a Clinical Law Fellow to assist in the supervision and management of the Investor Rights Clinic caseload, and to work on investor justice and education projects.  The position offers a unique opportunity to work with law students on behalf of investors of modest means who have arbitrable securities disputes with their brokers and/or brokerage firms arising out of their trading accounts.  Clinic supervisors work with students to enhance their skills in legal research and writing, interviewing and counseling clients, navigating the arbitration process, mediating disputes, commenting on regulatory rule proposals on behalf of the small investor, and negotiating with adversaries.  For a more detailed description of the clinic’s work, download the brochure.

The Clinical Law Fellow will be appointed to the position as Staff Attorney of John Jay Legal Services, Inc., the not-for-profit corporation that operates legal clinics at Pace Law School.  The Fellow will work in close collaboration with the Investor Rights Clinic’s Director and Supervising Attorneys and will help to manage the clinic’s caseload.  During the academic year, the work will primarily consist of helping to supervise student work on behalf of the clinic’s clients.  During breaks in the academic calendar, the Fellow will be expected to assume more direct responsibility for clients.  The Fellow also will be expected to assist in developing cases, refining teaching materials and the continuing development of the program.  This is a full-time, 12-month appointment, which is grant-funded and not renewable. 
The Clinical Law Fellow may participate in the intellectual life of the Law School and pursue his or her professional goals in conjunction with the Clinic Director, including opportunities for scholarship.  The Clinical Law Fellow also will be invited to workshop papers with the faculty and is welcome to attend all events, lectures, colloquia, symposia, moots, and faculty workshops and conferences. 

Minimum Qualifications:
• J.D., and at least one year of relevant securities arbitration practice in a securities arbitration clinic or in a private setting. 
• Strong academic record and/or other indicia of high performance ability.
• Demonstrated commitment to public interest work.
• Must be (or become by September 2009) admitted to practice law in New York and remain in good standing of the bars of all jurisdictions of admission. 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
• Familiarity with the law and process of securities arbitration;
• Basic understanding of the law governing the obligations of brokers to their customers;
• Excellent coordination and organizational skills, and meticulous attention to detail;
• Ability to work independently and supervise and coordinate the work of others;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Excellent research and writing skills; and
• Ability to work with a wide range of people, including students, clients, attorneys, regulators and industry representatives.

Pace University is an Equal Employment and Affirmative Action Employer, M/F/H/V, committed to ensuring a diverse learning and working environment.  Female and minority candidates of all types are encouraged to apply. 

Salary:  $50,000 salary for twelve months, plus all benefits available to a full-time University employee.  This is a one year grant-funded position and is not renewable.

To Apply:  Interested applicants should send a: (a) cover letter with a statement of interest, (b) resume, (c) and recent writing sample of 10 pages or less to:

Ms. Florie Friedman, Clinic Administrator
John Jay Legal Services, Inc.
Pace University School of Law
80 N. Broadway
White Plains, NY 10603

Or, submit electronically with “Investor Rights Clinic Fellow” in the subject line.

Deadline:  No later than March 15, 2009.  Applications may be considered on a rolling basis.

Start Date:  May 26, 2009.

-jl

Newman: Re-Conceptualizing Poverty Law Clinical Curriculum and Legal Services Practice

JoNel Newman (Miami) has published Re-Conceptualizing Poverty Law Clinical Curriculum and Legal Services Practice: the Need for Generalists, Fordham Urban Law Journal, Vol. 34, 2009. Here is the abstract:      

This essay discusses how the legal profession - including legal services providers to the poor - became so specialized. The essay also discusses how the clinical legal education movement has tracked this increasing trend to specialization. The essay argues that specialization hurts impoverished clients, and argues for greater recognition of the value of poverty law "generalists." The paper identifies several models for the provision of more general poverty law services and discusses the use of this model in a law school clinic.

-jl

Herring: Clinical Legal Education - Energy and Transformation

David J. Herring (Pittsburgh) has posted Clinical Legal Education: Energy and Transformation, University of Toledo Law Review, Vol. 31, 2000. Here is the abstract:

The clinical movement has had a dramatic impact on the nation's law schools. Administrators and faculty members cannot successfully ignore it or wish it away. Instead, they must address it and seek ways to harness its energy. My perspective on this subject stems from my entry into academia as a clinician. I was a faculty member in the University of Michigan's Child Advocacy Law Clinic for three years before joining the faculty at the University of Pittsburgh in 1990 with the charge to create and implement an in-house clinic program. Over the past ten years, I have assisted in the creation of the Child Welfare, Corporate Counsel, Elder, Environmental, Health, and Low Income Taxpayer Clinics. Thus, my actions indicate that I am a supporter of clinical legal education. However, my support is not unconditional.

Clinical legal education poses uncomfortable challenges and significant problems for legal educators. Several are mentioned in this work. Yet no matter what one thinks about clinical teaching methods, clinical faculty status, or even clinical education in general, I believe that the creation of clinics can transform a law school's curriculum and environment in many positive ways.

-jl

ABA Tax Section Survey

The ABA Tax Section is working with one of its sponsors to collect information on how tax practitioners conduct tax research including:

What tools are useful to you, and how you prefer to receive legal information that is useful in your practice. The survey should only take about 10 minutes of your time. If you choose to complete it, your confidentiality is assured, and your name and/or any other personal information is not associated with the answers you provide.  In addition, as a thank-you, a question near the end of the survey asks if you wish to enter a drawing for one of three $100 AMEX gift cards. If you choose to enter the drawing, you will be asked for an e-mail address, which is only used to notify you if you win.

The survey is available here. -jl

NAACP National Headquarters Seeks General Counsel

Founded in 1909 by W.E.B. DuBois and others, the NAACP is the nation’s oldest nonprofit civil rights organization.  With its long history and deep roots—over 2000 local branches, youth and college chapters, and prison chapters in 50 states and approximately 250,000 members—the NAACP has played a critical leadership role in advancing the rights of African Americans and evolving American democracy in ways that are relevant to the lives of all Americans.  We are seeking a dynamic and experienced civil rights attorney to lead our in-house legal team as General Counsel.  You will serve as the NAACP’s chief attorney on civil rights issues, advising on legal strategies and representing the organization in state and federal courts.  We are particularly interested in finding an innovative and visionary leader who has deep knowledge of the field, and who can bring this expertise to bear in determining how the NAACP can best bring about meaningful and lasting change in the lives of our constituents. 

You will also guide a department that is responsible for providing legal advice to board, senior management and staff regarding all NAACP activities, including: strategic planning, compliance requirements, policy advocacy, litigation, nonprofit transactions, intellectual property, human resources, governance, and a variety of other corporate issues.  Moreover, you will serve as corporate secretary to the board. QUALIFICATIONS - Ideal candidate will have the following traits:
• J.D. required and at least ten years of experience as an attorney representing clients in civil rights cases in state and federal courts. 
• Experience gained at a nonprofit advocacy organization is preferred, but we will also consider candidates from corporate firms who have been exposed to substantial civil rights litigation practice. 
• Demonstrable record of successful litigation.
• Capacity to analyze complex legal and factual issues.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills. 
• Ability to maintain an active travel schedule as litigation requires.
• Capacity to lead and inspire a dedicated group of professionals.
• Team player who can work well with other senior managers.

Salary: Commensurate with experience. Nondiscrimination:  The NAACP does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, age, height, weight, physical or mental ability, veteran status, military obligations, and marital status. Interested candidates should send a current resume and cover letter to:

NAACP Human Resources Department
410-580-5777
4805 Mt. Hope Drive
Baltimore, MD 21215
Fax Resume: (410) 580-5735

-jl

Save the Date: ABA LITC Workshop Thursday, May 7, 2009, in Washington, D.C.

The ABA Low-Income Taxpayer Representation Workshop will be held on Thursday, May 7, 2009, in Washington, DC, in conjunction with the May Meeting of the ABA Section of Taxation. The Workshop is jointly sponsored by the Tax Section's Pro Bono and Low-Income Taxpayer Committees. The topic for 2009 is "Representing Low-Income Taxpayers in IRS Collection Matters."

Anyone interested in serving on one of the following panels should contact Paul Harrison by February 20, 2009:

- Representing Low Income Taxpayers in IRS Collection Matters: Introduction & Overview.  This panel will focus on current trends in IRS Collection activities as they pertain to low-income taxpayers, typical collection issues faced by low-income taxpayers, commonly encountered collection notices, intake practices related to LITP collection issues, and the importance of financial analysis in collection issues.

- Contesting Liability under IRC §6015 (Innocent Spouse, Separation of Liability, & Equitable Relief)

- Collection Alternatives: OIC, Installment Agreements, Partial Pay Installment Agreements, Currently not collectible status, and Bankruptcy.

- CDP Appeal of Collection Matters: Case study and mock CDP hearing.

-jl

Job Announcement: Hofstra Law 2009-2010 Visiting Clinical Professor

Hofstra University School of Law, located in Hempstead, NY, is seeking to hire a Visiting Clinical Professor to teach and supervise in its Criminal Justice Clinic for the 2009-2010 academic year.  The Hofstra Law Clinic was established in 1973 and is a vibrant and integral part of the Law School.  The Criminal Justice Clinic serves indigent clients from New York's Queens and Nassau Counties.  The Law School also has 6 additional clinics, including Political Asylum, Community and Economic Development, Securities Arbitration, Law Reform Advocacy, Child Advocacy, and Mediation. 

Our Visiting Professor will be able to draw from the CJC's existing curriculum and well-established sources of clients and will be responsible for all aspects of running the Clinic, including: course planning and teaching, client selection, supervision and mentoring of law students in representing clients, clinic administration, and community education and outreach.  If so desired, the visiting professor can teach non-clinical course offerings, too.

Our clinical faculty benefit from generous support for scholarship and pedagogical innovation, as well as being a part of an active and engaged NYC-area clinical community. All visiting professors are warmly encouraged to participate in workshops, conferences, and other aspects of academic life at the Law School, including the bi-monthly meetings of an energetic and supportive clinical faculty. 

The Law School seeks an applicant with demonstrated experience in the criminal justice field.  Clinical teaching experience is highly desirable. New York bar membership or eligibility and willingness to seek admission on motion is required.  Salary is commensurate with experience.

Hofstra University is an equal opportunity employer, committed to fostering diversity in its faculty, administrative staff and student body, and encourages applications from the entire spectrum of a diverse community. Please send or email a cover letter, resume, and the names of three references to

Jennifer Gundlach
Vice Dean of Academic Affairs
Hofstra University School of Law
Room 244 Law School
121 Hofstra University
Hempstead, NY 11549
(516) 493-5854 (o)

-jl

CLEA New Clinicians Conference: May 5-6, 2009 in Cleveland

Professor Kim Connolly has announced:

CLEA will indeed be holding its CLEA New Clinicians Conference this year in Cleveland, immediately preceding the AALS conference (and concurrent with the Directors conference).  We will meet at Case Western Reserve University  starting at 3 pm on Tuesday, May 5th, through dinner, and the next day, Wednesday the 6th, from 8:30 am through 4:30 pm.  We will have shuttle transportation from the AALS conference hotel and meals provided as part of registration.  Registration details, etc. coming soon from conference co-chair Laura McNally (of Case) … so stay tuned!

-jl

Additional Panelists Confirmed for Maryland Law's 35th Anniversary Clinical Conference

I previously blogged about the March 6, 2009, Clinical Law Conference at University of Maryland Law School. Updated information, including the conference agenda, is now available online. -jl

Job Announcement: Director - Stanford Cyberlaw Clinic

Stanford Law School invites applications for the position of Director of the Stanford Cyberlaw Clinic (SCC). SCC is a clinical program that has long been offered at Stanford Law School.  It is one of ten clinical programs making up the Stanford Legal Clinic.  The SCC provides students opportunities to work as lawyers on the cases it handles, under the close supervision of the SCC director. As its name suggests, the clinic has until now focused primarily on the intersection of new digital technologies and the law.  For example, it has worked on cases involving internet anonymity, and rights of free speech.  In addition, the clinic has worked on some fair-use cases outside of the internet context. As we approach hiring a new director we are open to considering new directions for the clinic’s work within the areas of technology or intellectual property.  Depending on the nature of the work the clinic does under its new director, the name of the clinic may well change to more accurately reflect the actual work being done.   

Duties of the Director of the SCC include management of projects and clients, direct supervision of a clinical fellow and Stanford law students, teaching the seminar that is part of the clinic, collaborating with clinical faculty at the Law School, managing the operation of the Clinic, budgeting, community relations, assisting in the development of additional resources, and acting as liaison with the Law School community.

Depending on the experience and qualifications of the candidate, the appointment as Director of the SCC may be accompanied by an appointment to a clinical-tenure-track position within the clinical faculty.   If that is not appropriate, the appointment will be made for a three-year term as a Lecturer at the Law School.  In that event, we would anticipate that the director would be considered for a clinical-tenure-track during his or her third year in the position.

We seek candidates with distinguished practice experience and a strong commitment to clinical legal education. Applicants should have at least five years experience in a relevant practice area.  Applicants should also have an academic record that demonstrates their capacity to be active participants in the Law School’s academic community. The applicant must either be a member of the California State Bar, or be willing to take the examination necessary for admission within one year of the commencement of employment.  Stanford University is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to diversity.

Interested applicants should send a cover letter and resume by mail or e-mail to:

Lawrence Marshall
Associate Dean for Public Service
and Clinical Education &
David & Stephanie Mills Director
of Clinical Education
Stanford Law School
Crown Quadrangle
559 Nathan Abbott Way
Stanford, CA 94305

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.  -jl

CALL FOR PAPERS - THE LONG ROAD HOME: PERSPECTIVES ON OLMSTEAD TEN YEARS LATER

The Georgia State University College of Law will hold a one-day symposium on Friday, October 23, 2009, to mark the tenth anniversary of the United States Supreme Court’s integration mandate in Olmstead v. L.C., 527 U.S. 581 (1999), a landmark decision considered by some to be the disability law parallel to Brown v. Board of Education.  Attorneys and the surviving plaintiff from the Olmstead litigation, which
originated in metropolitan Atlanta, will participate in the Symposium. United States District Court Judge Marvin Shoob, who ruled on the original summary judgment motion in Olmstead, will speak at the luncheon.

The Symposium is co-sponsored by the College of Law, the Center for Leadership in Disability, the Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP and the Georgia Advocacy Office.  Attorneys from Atlanta Legal Aid and Sutherland participated in the original Olmstead litigation. 

The Symposium will examine the current status of the right of individuals with disabilities to receive services in community-based settings and explore the next steps in implementing and expanding the Olmstead decision. The College of Law welcomes papers, essays, and symposium-length articles on these topics and related subjects.  The format is flexible in order to encourage academics, advocates,
attorneys, practitioners, and providers alike to participate.  Selected conference papers will be published in a future issue of the Georgia State University Law Review.

Those interested in participating should e-mail a one-page abstract by March 20, 2009.  Participants will be notified by late April if their papers have been accepted for publication.  For more information, please contact Laurice Rutledge, Law Review Symposium Editor, or Talley Wells.   

-jl

Job Announcement: Legal Process Professor at Touro Law Center

Touro College - Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center seeks applicants for the position of Legal Process professor. Legal Process is a six-credit, first-year course. Students receive three credits in the fall semester and three credits in the spring semester. In addition to the standard focus on predictive writing in the fall and persuasive writing in the spring, students are introduced to client interviewing, client counseling, and negotiation. Full-time Legal Process professors teach two sections of approximately 18 students each.

After two successive one-year contracts, Legal Process professors have presumptively renewable three year contracts, with renewable five-year contracts for scholarly publication. Legal Process is a directorless program with eight full-time professors who enjoy the same level of autonomy as the doctrinal faculty, as well as the same access to travel, scholarship, and other professional development funds.

Legal Process professors are involved in all aspects of law school life, including chairing and serving on major committees and serving as advisors to student organizations. They also have the opportunity to teach a variety of other courses. Legal Process professors attend faculty meetings and vote on all matters other than tenure and retention. The salary range for this position is $80,000-$89,000.

Touro is located in Central Islip, a suburban community on Long Island close to Manhattan and the wonders of New York City. Touro is housed in a new state-of-the-art facility directly across from the federal and state courthouses. Touro's innovative curriculum, court observation program, and Public Advocacy Center take advantage of this proximity by giving students hands-on experience and the ability to observe the skills they are learning in the classroom as they are applied in the real world.

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and references by mail to Professor Deseriee Kennedy, Chair of Appointments Committee, c/o Marie Litwin, Secretary to the Dean, Touro College, Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center, 225 Eastview Drive, Central Islip, NY 11722, or by email .

The Appointments Committee would like to receive all material by February 13, 2009.

-jl

Soliciting Nominations for the Shanara Gilbert Award

The Awards Committee of the AALS Section on Clinical Legal Education is now accepting nominations for the Shanara Gilbert Award, which will be given out during the AALS’s Workshop on Clinical Legal Education in Cleveland, Ohio, from May 6 – May 9, 2009.  The deadline for submitting nominations is March 6, 2009.

Designed to honor an "emerging clinician," the award is for a recent entrant (10 years or fewer) into clinical legal education who has demonstrated some or all of the following qualities:

1) a commitment to teaching and achieving social justice, particularly in the areas of race and the criminal justice system;

2) a passion for providing legal services and access to justice to individuals and groups most in need;

3) service to the cause of clinical legal education or to the AALS Section on Clinical Legal Education;

4) an interest in international clinical legal education; and

5) an interest in the beauty of nature (desirable, but not required).

Nominations for the Gilbert Award must be received no later than March 6, 2009.

Past recipients include:

2001 Adele Bernhard (Pace University)

2002 Grady Jessup (North Carolina Central University)

2003 Beth Lyon (Villanova University)

2004 Esther Canty-Barnes (Rutgers School of Law — Newark)

2005 Melissa Breger (Albany)

2006 Michael Pinard (University of Maryland)

2007 Pam Metzger (Tulane)

2008 Kris Henning (Georgetown)

NOMINATIONS GUIDELINES: To ensure that the Awards Committee has uniformity in what it is considering in support of each candidate, the Committee requests that nominations adhere to the following guidelines:

1)  To nominate someone, send the name of the nominee and a nominating statement setting forth why the Section should honor the individual, specifically referencing the award criteria outlined above where relevant.  The Committee strongly encourages nominators to obtain some supporting letters for the candidate, given that its deliberations are assisted immensely by a variety of voices speaking about a particular nominee.  Please note that there is a limit on the amount of supporting material that will be considered. Supporting materials for  nominations include: nominating statement of no more than five  pages in length (required); a copy of the nominee's resume (required); a list of any scholarship, but not copies of the scholarship (required, but do not duplicate this if it is in the nominee's resume); no more than five letters or e-mails in support (no letter or e-mail should be more than four single-spaced pages long, exclusive of signatures, which may be multiple); and no more than five pages of any other materials. The nomination and documentary support must be submitted via e-mail either in Word or pdf files. Any nominators who want to submit supporting materials that they have in hard copy are responsible for converting them into portable document format or scanning them and cleaning and submitting them via pdf files attached to e-mail. 

2)  Members of the clinical community who have nominated a person previously are encouraged to re-nominate that person for this year’s award, provided that the person is still a recent entrant (10 years or fewer) into clinical legal education. The selection of one nominee over another should not be viewed as a statement against those not selected. The Committee can select only one person and someone not selected one year might be selected the next.

3) The Committee’s deliberations are assisted immensely by a variety of voices speaking about a particular nominee. Nominators are strongly encouraged to seek letters in support of the nominee from colleagues. Such letters may also include letters of support from students whom the candidate has supervised in a clinical setting.

Please send your nominations by e-mail no later than March 6, 2009 to BOTH of the following emails:

clinicawards@yahoo.com

joy@wulaw.wustl.edu

Gordon Beggs, Cleveland State University

Deborah Epstein, Georgetown University

Zelda Harris, University of Arizona

Peter Joy, Awards Committee Chair, Washington University in St. Louis

University of Baltimore Law School Seeks Two Clinical Fellows

CLINICAL FELLOW FOR IMMIGRANT RIGHTS CLINIC- The University of Baltimore School of Law invites applications for a Fellowship in its Immigrant Rights Clinic to start July 1, 2009.  This public interest fellowship program offers practicing attorneys exposure to law school clinical teaching.

The Fellow's duties include direct supervision of clinic students representing clients who have immigration law issues and clinic classroom teaching in coordination with clinic faculty. Fellows also pursue professional goals in conjunction with his/her clinic director, including opportunities for scholarship.

This position is a contractual appointment for up to two years with an option for a one—year renewal.

Qualifications: excellent oral and written communication skills; at least two years of experience as a practicing lawyer primarily in the area of immigration law; a strong academic record and/or other indicia of high performance ability; a commitment to work for low income clients and a strong interest in teaching. Fellows must be members of the Maryland Bar in order to supervise law practice by students.

Salary: The current salary is $50,000 year 1; $53,000 year 2.  The position includes full benefits, including retirement annuities, research support, and travel allowance. 

The deadline for letters of interest and resumes is March 16, 2009. For detailed job descriptions of UB’s fellowship program, please view their website.

To apply, submit a letter of interest and curriculum vitae to: Robert Rubinson Professor of Law and Director of Clinical Education University of Baltimore School of Law 40 W. Chase Street Baltimore, Maryland 21201 Phone: 410-837-4094; Fax: 410-333-3053

CLINICAL FELLOW FOR FAMILY MEDIATION CLINIC- The University of Baltimore School of Law invites applications for a Fellowship in its Family Mediation Clinic to start July 1, 2009.  This public interest fellowship program offers practicing attorneys exposure to law school clinical teaching.

The Fellow's duties include direct supervision of clinic students in the Family Mediation Clinic, representing clients who have family mediation issues and clinic classroom teaching in coordination with clinic faculty. Fellows also pursue professional goals in conjunction with his/her clinic director, including opportunities for scholarship.

This position is a contractual appointment for up to two years with an option for a one—year renewal.

Qualifications: excellent oral and written communication skills; at least two years of experience as a practicing lawyer primarily in the area of mediation; a strong academic record and/or other indicia of high performance ability; a commitment to work for low income clients and a strong interest in teaching. Fellows must be members of the Maryland Bar in order to supervise law practice by students.

Salary: The current salary is $50,000 year 1; $53,000 year 2.  The position includes full benefits, including retirement annuities, research support, and travel allowance. 

The deadline for letters of interest and resumes is March 16, 2009. To apply, submit a letter of interest and curriculum vitae to: Robert Rubinson Professor of Law and Director of Clinical Education University of Baltimore School of Law 40 W. Chase Street Baltimore, Maryland 21201 Phone: 410-837-4094; Fax: 410-333-3053.

-jl

Suffolk Law School Seeks Visiting Clinical Professor

Suffolk University Law School is seeking an experienced Visiting Clinical Professor of Law to teach in its Clinical Program during the 2009-2010 academic year. The Professor will be responsible for classroom substantive law and skills teaching, student supervision, and other related duties. Applicants must able to teach and supervise students representing clients in one of the following areas: adult criminal defense, housing and foreclosure law, family law or immigration.

Clinical faculty from other law schools are especially encouraged to apply. Applicants must either be a member of the Massachusetts Bar or eligible for admission to practice in Massachusetts (a local practice rule allows most out-of-state clinicians to practice for up to two years representing indigent clients).  Applicants should also have at least five years of litigation practice and/or teaching experience.

This is a one year position, beginning July 1, 2009, and ending June 30, 2010. Suffolk University is an equal opportunity employer and particularly encourages applications from women and minorities.

To apply, please send a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, and a list of three references to Professor Ilene Seidman Acting Director of Clinical Programs, Suffolk University Law School, 120 Tremont Street, Boston, MA  02108-4977. Review of candidates will be completed by February.

-jl