Did You Know ...

JANUARY IS NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH???

The Duval County Juvenile Detention Facility (Duval House) is in need of mentors and tutors for the young men currently housed at the facility. Your commitment would be a minimum of once or twice per month for a few hours each time. Long term commitments are preferable but not necessary. The facility is somewhat flexible regarding scheduling and will work around your class/study time.

If you are interested in more information or to sign up as a volunteer mentor or tutor please contact:

Alisa Wilkes, Esq.
Duval House Advisory Board Member
(904) 566-8468
awilkes@sextonandwykoff.com

Exciting Opportunity!

The U.S. Attorney Office applicaiton deadline is rapidly approaching. The deadline for submitting application materials for a credit bearing externship is 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 26th. While 1Ls who will have completed all 1st year required courses by the beginning of the summer are eligible, 2Ls are especially encouraged to apply. The GPA requirement for this externship placement is a 2.75.

Interested students should submit a cover letter, resume, unofficial transcript, writing sample and the U.S. Attorney's Office pre-interview questionnaire to Cleopartra Smith (in the Clinic Office - Room 255) by the application deadline. The cover letter should include your geographical preference---Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando or Fort Meyers. The cover letter should be addressed to the following:

Judith Hoberman, Human Resources Specialist
U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Florida
Tampa, Florida

Any questions can be answered by the Clinic Office.

Florida Bar Foundation Applications

Do not forget to send in your Florida Bar Foundation Applications for summer positions! The deadline is rapidly approaching --- January 19, 2011. Click HERE for all the necessary information!!!

Exellent Opportunity In Jacksonville

This semester, the Family Nurturing Center would like to recruit students to help at the Center. For students who are able to commit at least one year, they can appear on behalf of the Center at domestic violence hearings and provide new client orientations.

Available Court Days:
Duval Domestic Violence – Monday and Wednesday Mornings
Nassau Domestic Violence – Tuesday Mornings

Available Orientation Days:
Monday morning and afternoon
Wednesday morning
Thursday afternoon

For students who are only able to commit to the current semester, the Center has non-legal pro bono service hours available for the student who can lead study hours and work with children on reading Monday – Friday between 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. This opportunity can be customized (for example, two students may want to team up and volunteer together for one hour doing a story and snack for children ages 4-6 on Tuesdays).

The Center will have an open house for any interested students on Friday, Jan. 7th from noon to 1 p.m. in room 465. Pizza will be served! Students should R.S.V.P. to leigh@fncflorida.org

The Florida Bar Foundation’s 2011 Legal Aid Summer Fellowship application is now available on-line. Please note that the application deadline date is January 19, 2011. Applications submitted after January 19, 2011 will not be considered.

Information about the Florida Bar Foundation’s 2011 Legal Aid Summer Fellowship Program is available on Symplicity. The Florida Bar Foundation’s Legal Aid Summer Fellowship Program is a great opportunity for law students to work at a Florida legal aid program for eleven weeks during the summer to get hands-on experience while solidifying their commitment to practicing public interest law upon graduation.

We encourage students to have their application reviewed by Career Services staff or Career Development staff prior to submission.

Selection Criteria:
Among the several factors to be considered in the selection of successful applicants are:

 The depth and breadth of the applicant’s commitment and experience in working with the low-income community;
 The applicant’s passion, insight, and personal commitment to public service and pro bono work;
 The applicant’s background and personal story, including their minority status, cultural diversity, and poverty experience;
 The applicant’s future career goals and employment objectives;
 The thoughtfulness, care, and clarity the applicant puts into completing the application; and
 The applicant’s writing skills and academic achievements.

Where Can the Application be Found:
The on-line application and other materials can be found on the Foundation’s website (http://www.flabarfndn.org/), by following these steps:

1) click on the Grant Programs tab at the top of the homepage,
2) scroll down to Law Student Assistance,
3) click on the Legal Aid Summer Fellowship Program button.

Applicants will need to review and print out the 2011 Program Placement List (found at the Legal Services Summer Fellowship Program webpage) before submitting their application. Students may list up to 4 program placement preferences on their application.

Attorney Position Available in Miami

SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER (SPLC)

The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) http://www.splcenter.org/ works to reduce the imprisonment of poor children and children of color and improve educational outcomes by advocating for juvenile justice and educational system reform. SPLC works to stop the abuse and neglect of children in the juvenile justice system, limit policies and practices that push children into the juvenile justice system, end school disciplinary practices that exclude students from public schools, and ensure that all child-serving systems are humane.

SPLC seeks a lawyer to work collaboratively with FYI’s director and staff to:
•Develop and execute campaigns to stop the overuse of incarceration and abuse and neglect of children in the juvenile justice system
•Litigate conditions of confinement class actions and take other legal action to protect children
•Work collaboratively with juvenile justice stakeholders, parents, elected officials, the faith-based community, and other advocacy organizations to reform Florida’s juvenile justice system

To learn more ... log into Symplicity today!!!

Application Deadline: 10/31/2010

Hey 2L's ... Looking for summer work for 2011?

PSLAWNET (if you haven't joined ... you should) just posted two great paid summer 2011 opportunities for 2L students in Atlanta & Miami.

(1) Immigrant Justice Project - Atlanta, GA
Paid Summer Legal Internship
Practice Areas: Civil Rights & Liberties/Racial Justice Issues, Farm Worker/Migrant Worker
Qualifications
Second-year law students who possess strong academic backgrounds, excellent research and writing skills, and a commitment to public interest law. Proficiency in Spanish is also desired

(2) Florida Youth Initiative - Miami, FL

Paid Summer Legal Internship

Practice Areas: Children/Education/Juvenile Issues, Civil Rights & Liberties/Racial Justice Issues
Qualifications
Second-year law students who possess strong academic backgrounds, excellent research and writing skills, and a commitment to public interest

Want to know more?
Wish you knew how to learn more?
Log into Symplicity today!

Get Experience NOW

Mark your calendars to attend a Clinic Information Meeting! This is a great way to learn about the application process, requirements, and benefits of a clinics.

Please pick one session to attend ...
Friday, Sept 10th, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon Room 400
Monday, Sept. 13th, 2:00 to 3:00 P.M. Room 450
Tuesday, Sept 14th, 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. Room 515
Wednesday, Sept 15th, 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. Room 400
Thursday, Sept. 9th, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Room 450 (**judicial externships**)


The deadline for submitting applications for the Spring 2011 semester will be noon on Friday, Sept. 24th.

All classes are encouraged to attend to learn about these exciting opportunities to get real-world experience!

New Government Jobs On Symplicity

Log in to Symplicity today to learn more details about two exciting positions

Contract Specialist, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Kennedy Space Center, FL

General Attorney, Federal Labor Relations Authority- Atlanta, GA, Atlanta, GA

Great Position Available!

Fellowship Announcement
Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center’s Workplace Justice Project
__________________________________________________________
The Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center is a non-profit public interest law firm which was founded in 1996 and specializes in advocacy on behalf of immigrants. FIAC is interested in sponsoring a highly-qualified law student entering his/her third year to apply for a post-graduate Skadden fellowship to work with FIAC’s Workplace Justice Project.

The Workplace Justice Project was started in 2007 to advance the employment rights of low-wage immigrant women in “cleaning and caring” industries in South Florida through a mix of litigation, policy advocacy, outreach, and education. The WJP has litigated wage-and-hour and human trafficking cases on behalf of domestic workers; developed a corps of worker-activists; and engaged in policy reform efforts. As a result of this experience, domestic worker advocacy has emerged as a core priority, and we are interested in helping a student to develop a project to address employment issues faced by immigrant domestic workers.

Candidates must have a commitment to immigrant, women’s, and worker rights; excellent writing skills; a strong academic record; and the ability to speak Spanish. Popular education or organizing experience is preferred.

Students interested in being sponsored for a fellowship should send a letter expressing your interest and describing your relevant experience, a resume, an unofficial transcript, three references, and a legal writing sample to jhill@fiacfla.org by July 25, 2010.

FIAC is an equal opportunity employer and encourages people of color, women, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender individuals, and persons with disabilities to apply.

Highlight On Americorps Fellowships

Fellowships in the areas of domestic violence, homeless preventation and veterans' rights are available NOW in Gainesville and Jacksonville for recent graduates. Log into PSLAWNET today to learn more about the requirements and application process.

* Americorps Fellowship (Domestic Violence), Three Rivers Legal Services, Gainesville, FL
* Americorps Fellowship (Homeless Prevention), Three Rivers Legal Services, Gainesville, FL
* Americorps Fellowship (Homeless Prevention), Three Rivers Legal Services, Jacksonville, FL
* Americorps Fellowship (Veterans Rights), Three Rivers Legal Services, Jacksonville, FL

New Jobs Available

Assistant Jury Administrator, U.S. District Court - Southern District of Florida, (Miami)
Assistant United States Attorney, U.S. Attorney's Office - Southern District of Florida, (Miami)
Assistant United States Attorney, U.S. Attorney's Office - Southern District of Florida, (Miami)
Attorney, Public Services, University of Miami School of Law (UM Law), (Coral Gables)
Legal Intern, United Voices, (Tampa)
Official Court Reporter, U.S. District Courts - Southern District of Florida (FLSD), (Miami)
Outreach Paralegal/Asistente Legal, Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), (Atlanta, GA)
Staff Attorney, Atlanta Legal Aid Society - Atlanta, GA, (Atlanta, GA)
Superior Court Administrator, Superior Court, (Atlanta, GA)

Log into PSLAWNET today!

The Legal Department of the Service Employees International Union has immediate openings for law fellows, starting in August 2010. Recent graduates are welcome to apply! The Fellowships will be based in Washington, DC with a significant amount of extended travel to Florida. The SEIU Law Fellowship Program was established to expose recent law graduates to legal work within an international union and offers an excellent opportunity for new lawyers to work with experienced union-side lawyers on a variety of cutting-edge issues related to the advancement of workers’ interests. SEJU is a progressive, dynamic and growing labor organization representing over 2 million workers in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada, principally in the building service, public service, and health care fields. For more information including all application instructions, log into Symplicity today.

Looking For Creative Ways To Network in Florida?

Try utlizing this website: Florida Pro Bono

Lists of current projects is available. What a great way to meet attorneys interested in the type of work you are while giving back to the community.

Immigration Position Available

The Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center is actively seeking a bright, committed attorney who can speak and write Haitian Creole. Work will include general immigration, representing immigrants before USCIS and Immigration Court for asylum, HRIFA, Waiver, TPS, and deportation defense cases. For more information and qualification information click HERE.

2010 Lavender Law Career Fair & Conference

Every year, the sharpest legal minds in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community gather at the National LGBT Bar Association's annual conference and career fair.
Hundreds of practicing attorneys, dozens of scholars, over 500 students and many leading members of the judiciary are expected to attend over the course of this year's events.

Thursday, August 26, 2010
Miami, FL
Loews Miami Beach Hotel

To learn more information and registration instructions, click HERE.

Federal Government Position Now Available

This just in .... a General Attorney position with the Department Of Homeland Security is available in Miami. For all of the information, go to http://www.usajobs.gov/ and look at the Job Announcement Number: CC/10-18

Congratulations Michael Figgins!

Jacksonville Area Legal Aid is a wonderful organization which works with many FCSL student volunteers and employs many of our graduates. We were thrilled to hear about the recent accolades of JALA under the leadership of Executive Director, Michael Figgins. Click here for more information about JALA and the changes over the past 15 years. For information about volunteering at JALA, contact Career Services.

Do You Speak Creole?

If you speak Creole and have an interest in representing immigrants before USCIS and Immigration Court for asylum, HRIFA, Waiver, TPS, and deportation defense cases, click HERE for a great position available now. The application deadline is July 31, 2010.

Florida Supreme Court Opportunities

If you are a graduating 3L, check out this fabulous opportunity with the Florida Supreme Court: http://www.floridasupremecourt.org/employment/central.shtml
Applications should be completed ASAP but will be accepting them until May 14th.

If you are a rising 3L, check this one out .... http://www.floridasupremecourt.org/employment/lewis.shtml
Accepting applications now for a clerkship that will begin in August of 2011.