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

Networking is Everywhere

You have all heard the news by now ... networking is your key to job success! Don't think that networking stops once you enter the job field. A recent article in The Washington Post notes that networking is key in the federal job search as well. To read all the great tips in the full article, click HERE. Also, if you missed the CSD Presentation on Networking, feel free to stop by (Room 180) and check out the DVD.

Networking Opportunities

Local bar associations offer a wealth of opportunities for networking and learning. Consider becoming a student member of the local bar association where you want to eventually practice. Get involved and start intergrating into your future legal community. There are local bars located in every state across the country. For a full list, click HERE.

Interested In Immigration?

If learning more about the practice of Immigration Law is appealing, you should definitely consider attending this FANTASTIC networking and learning opportunity sponsored by AILA Central Florida Chapter! Come meet some of the top attorneys discussing immigration issues and learn tons to help you decide if immigration law is right for you.

For all the details including registration 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.

Working Internationally

If working for the United Nations or other Inter-Governmental Organizations (IGOs) has seemed appealing, take a moment and read one success story, courtesy of PSLAWNet. In the article, Sara Rakita, Associate Director of the Public Interest Law Center at New York University School of Law discusses her work on human rights and the rule of law, primarily in Africa. For secrets of her success, click HERE to read more.

ANOTHER Job Fair

The Partnership for Public Service will host its eighth annual Public Service Career and Internship Fair on July 14 from 3:00-7:00 p.m. at the National Building Museum. Last year's event connected 78 federal agencies with more than 6,000 students and jobseekers.

This fair is dedicated to providing summer interns in Washington, D.C., students—both graduate and undergraduate, and recent graduates with access to agency representatives, and information about their agencies’ missions and available positions. By facilitating conversations between federal workers and promising young people, we hope to encourage entry-level talent to bring their skills and experiences to the government as dynamic federal employees.

For more information, click HERE.

Family Law Conference

Students are invited to attend the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts' 47th Annual Conference, titled Traversing the Trail of Alienation: Rocky Relationships, Mountains of Emotion, Mile High Conflict, at the Sheraton Denver Downtown, June 2-5, 2010. The program features 90 sessions, including four plenary sessions and six all-day pre-conference institutes, on topics from alienation to negotiation, research to practice or domestic abuse to child abuse and neglect.

Registration is available at a reduced rate, more than 40 conference scholarships are available, and students who attend will be paired with a mentor/ experienced practitioner for ongoing mentoring. For more information, to view the full conference brochure, apply for a scholarship or register online, see http://www.afccnet.org/

JOB FAIR For Florida Coastal Students

Southeastern Minority Job Fair

The Southeastern Minority Job Fair (SEMJF) provides law students with the opportunity to interview with legal employers from throughout the U.S. This interviewing opportunity is for both summer and full-time attorney positions and is open to second and third year law students, as well as recent graduates. This year, SEMJF will be held in Marietta, GA (just north of Atlanta) on July 30 - July 31.

SEMJF provides an excellent opportunity to interview with employers from across the country in one location. In order to register for this event please provide the following information to Lori Lorenzo (llorenzo@fcsl.edu ) no later than Thursday April 22nd at 5:00pm:

Student first name
Student middle name
Student last name
Student email address (PLEASE NOTE: Students MUST use their school email addresses)
Student graduation date
Student year in school

Registrations received after 5:00pm on April 22nd will not be considered, so make sure to register early.

For more information about SEMJF including a calendar of important deadlines, visit the SEMJF website or contact the Career Services Department.

A presentation, ETHICAL ISSUES IN THE REPRESENTATION OF CHILD CLIENTS, is coming to Jacksonville next month. This presentation will be of interest to attorneys who come in contact with children in any area of law: tort, probate, family, dependency, and delinquency. This event will be held Friday April 23, 2010 from 1:00pm to 3:00pm in the Jury Assembly Room Courthouse Annex Building. The speaker is the esteemed Professor of Law Michael J. Dale, Nova Southeastern University. The Jacksonville Bar Association is applying for two hours of CLE credit for attendance at this presentation and a registration form will be available on the Jacksonville Bar website. For more information, contact the Jacksonville Bar Association. .

Washington DC Opportunity

The Civil Rights Division is the agency of the Federal Government primarily responsible for enforcing federal statutes and Executive Orders that prohibit unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, sex, disability, religion, and national origin. They are looking for law student volunteers for positions with the Department.
Internship Location: Washington, D.C.

Application Materials: Submit a resume (which includes your country of citizenship), a brief writing sample (no more than 5 pages), and a cover letter which indicates the time period you are available to work.
Qualifications: First-year (second semester), second- and third-year law students.
Application Deadline:
Summer applications must be received by March 31, 2010
Fall applications must be received by July 31, 2010
Spring applications must be received by November 30, 2010
Minimum Weeks Required: 8 weeks

Assignments: Interns are primarily responsible for assisting attorneys working on matters related to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin in federally assisted programs or activities, and Executive Order 13166, which focuses on limited English proficiency matters as related to national origin discrimination in federally assisted and federally conducted programs and activities. The Coordination and Review Section focuses on non-litigation enforcement of these and other nondiscrimination statutes and Executive Orders, including Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Intern assignments may include assisting in administrative investigations of recipients receiving federal financial assistance from the Department of Justice, and development of implementing regulations, policy guidance documents, legal manuals, and training materials.

TO APPLY:
CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISION
COORDINATION AND REVIEW SECTION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Room 5086, NYA Building
Washington, D.C. 20530
ATTN: Volunteer Internship Coordinator
Fax: (202) 305-9667
E-mail: crt.volunteervacancies@usdoj.gov (Subject Line: Volunteer Internship, COR)

For more information --> Web Site: http://www.usdoj.gov/crt

Experience Is Key!

A recent article written for UK law students offers some universal truths for U.S. law students. While some of the advice is definitely aimed specifically for a UK audience, the importance of getting legal experience while in law school is emphasized with the same importance students on the other side of the pond should follow. Some of our favorite advice states that law students should do pro bono work because it "provides a great opportunity to gain experience in the legal sector as you will have direct contact with clients. It also demonstrates a commitment to the profession." For more advice on the importance of getting legal experience for law students across the globe, click HERE.

Upcoming CLE in Jacksonville

Special Needs of Children CLE
Wednesday, May 5th, 2010

“If you practice in the areas of Labor, Immigration, Family, Adoption, or Criminal Law, you’ll want to Save The Date: May 5th, 2010 JBA’s Special Needs of Children Committee Hosts an All-Day CLE on Human Trafficking & Child Slavery: Not Just Somewhere Else” Click HERE for more information.

Networking In The Public Sector

A recent Blog post, "Networking: It's Really Not That Bad!" had some great tips about networking in the public sector from the student's perspective. If you are one of the many students who is still apprehensive about starting the networking process, take two minutes and read this Blog post for some inspiration!

Spring Break 2010 Farmworker Justice Immersion Project

The Spring Break 2010 Farmworker Justice Immersion Project will provide 30 FCSL student volunteers the opportunity to assist Florida Legal Services Inc. Migrant Farmworker Justice Project (“FLS”) lawyers collect and acquire critically needed field evidence that that will be used in the development and prosecution of new and ongoing farmworker cases. Spend your Spring Break making a difference in the lives and working conditions of one of the nation’s most exploited communities - - farmworkers. This year’s Spring Break 2010 Farmworker Justice Immersion Project focuses on two specific farmworker populations, workers in the fern industry and seasonal migrants who are used to harvest potatoes on Northeast Florida’s potato farms. FCSL students can expect to do client interviews, advocacy outreach, and spot legal research based on conditions and field data collected during the week’s outreach activities. The Project will run from March 15th through March 19th.

Registration, Training and Other Details

1. An informational meeting will be held on January 21st at noon.

2. Registration will take place on January 28th at noon and interested students will have the opportunity to register and meet with FLS lawyers.

Students interested must attend the January 28th registration session and two February training sessions conducted by FLS lawyers. FCSL student volunteers will receive pro bono credits for their participation and will obtain invaluable experience in working with clients, advocacy and legal research and writing. Interested students should watch for information about the initial meetings in January.

For further information, you can contact Professors Hornstein and Millard.

PAID & VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES IN JACKSONVILLE

Jacksonville Area Legal Aid (JALA) has some incredible paid and volunteer opportunities for law students. There are two programs recruiting for volunteers NOW.

1. Paid Positions For Students Who Are Eligible For Federal Work Study Funds
2. Volunteer Positions For Any Law Student

Paid Positions For Students Who Are Eligible For Federal Work Study Funds
Positions are located in the following units:

A) Predatory Lending Unit
The consumer law unit aggressively addresses consumer finance abuses practiced against low-income, working poor, elderly and members of the armed services. We welcome assistance from all law students who are seeking experience conducting legal and factual research, drafting motions, pleadings and memorandum of law, preparing discovery and discovery responses, investigating business practices related to consumer predatory lending, participating in legislative advocacy and community education projects, preparing and assisting with court hearings, depositions and trials and drafting training manuals. All work is directly supervised by an attorney.

B) Family Law Unit
The work in the family law unit includes drafting (letters, pleadings, memorandum of law), legal research, organizing discovery, and assisting with trial preparation.

C) Intake Unit
The Intake Unit position is under the supervision of the Director of Intake. This position conducts telephone and in-person client interviews to determine applicants’ legal issues (expressed and hidden), gather relevant facts and documents, and provide legal information in a fast-paced environment fostering holistic client services. Training in legal interviewing skills, some substantive law, conflicts of interest, use of case management system, and electronic calendaring will be provided.

If interested in any of these PAID positions, do the following:

1. Email Rita Rosario in Financial Aid to see if you qualify for federal work study funds.
2. If you qualify, send your resume to Lisa Vervynck in Career Services.

2. Volunteer Positions For Any Law Student
Volunteers are needed to serve as law clerks in the Consumer/Predatory Lending Unit. The work will involved helping attorneys prepare for a large case. This may be a great way to get some pro bono hours!!!

If interested in volunteering, send your resume, availability, and a date to set up orientation to Kathryn Jackson with JALA.

THESE ARE AMAZING OPPORTUNITIES TO GET EXPERIENCE.

DO NOT MISS OUT.

Public Service Career and Internship Fair

The Partnership for Public Service will host its annual Public Service Career and Internship Fair on July 16th from 3:00-7:00 p.m. at the National Building Museum. 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, attorneys, Foreign Service Officers, federal investigators, budget analysts and engineers, as well as for internships and fellowships. Click here to view a list of participating agencies and learn more about this event.

Students and young professionals: Admission is FREE! As a bonus, registered attendees can view a list of participating agencies, receive event updates and learn more about how to make the most of the fair. Register here.

Interested in Family Law?

The Orlando County Bar Association invites law students to attend an upcoming CLE, Education Advocacy 101 for GALs. If you have an interest in the Guardian ad Litem program or practicing family law in Orlando, this is a great FREE networking event to consider attending. For more information, click HERE.

Jacksonville Job Fair On Thursday

If you are a Veteran, you may want to consider attending The Veterans Career Fair this Thursday from 11AM to 3PM. More than 30 area employers from companies including Bank of America, Aflac, Comcast, Target, and more will be represented. For more information, including registration materials, click HERE.

Get Experience This Summer WHEREVER You Are!

From coast to coast, at the mountains or at the beach . . . no matter where you are this summer, there is probably an opportunity to get some great pro bono experience. Take a moment and review the National Pro Bono Opportunities Guide for help in finding a great organization to volunteer your time. Opportunities are located NATIONWIDE! Remember, pro bono work is a great way to give back and get great legal experience!