|
the university of iowa college of law chapter of the |
|

|
The National Lawyers Guild is dedicated to the need for basic and progressive change in the structure of our political and economic system. Through its members--lawyers, law students, jailhouse lawyers and legal workers united in chapters and committees--the Guild works locally, nationally and internationally as an effective political and social force in the service of the people.
The purpose of the University of Iowa Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild (NLG) is to promote the aims and the objectives of the NLG among the community of staff, students, and professors at the University of Iowa Law School and in the broader university community.
NLG Calendar of Events
- THE PATH FROM TENANT ORGANIZER TO HOUSING LAWYER - POSTPONED
- Affordable Housing Expert Michael Bodaken will speak about his path from tenant organizer to housing lawyer. Pizza will be provided. Michael Bodaken is director of the National Housing Trust, which revitalizes affordable apartments to better the quality of life for families and elderly. National Housing Trust is the only national nonprofit engaged in housing preservation through real estate development, lending, and public policy initiatives. For more information, email christine-ralston@uiowa.edu, or see http://www.nhtinc.org/.
- This event will likely take place in late April.
- LRAP
- Loan repayment assistance programs (LRAP = “L-rap”) help public interest grads with low salaries to repay their student loans. Students from EJF and NLG have formed a committee to improve LRAPs at Iowa. We will conduct paper and online surveys of the student body in a couple of weeks. Please participate! The final report will follow. If you would like to join the committee and help improve Iowa’s LRAPs, email jacob-wedemeyer@uiowa.edu
- Book Exchange
- If any students are looking for textbooks or hornbooks for the semester, feel free to email law-nlg@uiowa.edu and we'll compile a list and send it out to the listserv next week. Other students may want to lend or sell you their books.
Community Calendar and Information
-
- Common Ground Legal Collective Seeks Law Students to Respond to Katrina Relief Efforts
-
Hurricane Katrina was an unprecedented disaster for New Orleans and the surrounding areas. Neither the New Orleans' legal system nor the legal services providers were spared the devastation. Eight months later, the courts are still housed in temporary locations and prisoners locked up before Hurricane Katrina who were never arraigned or given a trial are still being found every week. The Public Defenders Office in New Orleans has been
reduced to seven attorneys where prior to the Hurricane there were 47 and the Department of Justice recently found that at least seventy are needed to be anywhere near effective. Pro bono service providers are decimated, and overwhelmed with the huge increase in need due to recovery-related issues such as insurance, FEMA, landlord/tenant and contractor disputes. The Common Ground Legal Collective needs law students to volunteer in New Orleans.
-
Come to New Orleans! We ask that you commit to at least two weeks of work, but encourage you to stay longer. Legal work is supervised by staff attorney Miles Swanson, miles@swanson.com. Meals are provided and assistance with housing may be possible, conditions permitting. It may even be possible to get school credit for your work. Please contact Soleil at commongroundlegal@gmail.com or (504) 717-7324 to volunteer or if you have any questions. Jeff Senter can also be reached for questions at jrs83@columbia.edu.
-
To learn more about Common Ground Legal Collective and their projects, visit their website.
- NYU Law Dean Condemns Defense Department Monitoring of Law Students
-
Dean Richard Revesz has issued a strong statement regarding the unbelievable Defense Department surveillance of Law School activities, including at NYU. Recently released documents from the U.S. Department of Defense confirm prior media reports that, in the name of investigating terrorist threats, government agencies have monitored activities at law schools throughout the country, including NYU School of Law. The monitored activities involve protests of the military's policy against hiring gay and lesbian law students for the Judge Advocate General Corps or other legal positions with the armed services. These protests have occurred primarily during visits to our campus by military recruiters.
-
Employment Opportunities
-
Students Active For Ending Rape (SAFER) is seeking a first-year law student to work as an intern this summer on a new, exciting project.
-
SAFER is a national non-profit organization committed to empowering students to hold colleges accountable for sexual assault in their on- and off-campus communities. SAFER achieves its goals by training students in effective organizing tactics and challenging them to examine the overlapping links between sexual assault and all forms of individual and institutional violence. (Some members of SAFER's are in the NLG.) --- 1L Summer Internship College Sexual Assault Policies Research and Analysis Students Active for Ending Rape (SAFER) New York, NY. For more information, visit the SAFER website.
- To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to organizers@safercampus.org outlining your relevant knowledge, experience, and interest.
- Law Internships at the Global Workers Justice Alliance in NYC
- Be part of groundbreaking advocacy for transnational migrants this summer! Global Workers Justice Alliance is offering a summer internship to a first and/or second year law student. From their New York City office, summer interns will research issues related to portable justice for transnational migrants and assist in developing and managing a transnational advocate alliance. Opportunities to travel to Mexico, or Central America are strong possibilities. Spanish fluency is preferred. Unfortunately, Global Workers can not provide compensation.
- To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, and the names emails, and phone numbers of two references ASAP. Please address all application materials and inquiries to: Global Workers Justice Alliance, 113 University Place, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10003. You can also email the application to: admin@globalworkers.org
-
Volunteer Lawyesr for Asylum Access in Asia, Africa and Latin America
- Asylum Access is currently recruiting volunteer legal advocates for its anticipated refugee legal aid projects in Ecuador (starting June 2007) and Thailand (starting October 2007). Asylum Access also expects to open other offices in Africa, Asia and Latin America in 2008 and beyond. Requirements for the Legal Advocate Position are as follows: 1. Previous international experience, 2. Attorney, law student or equivalent, 3. Experience working with clients in a public interest setting OR experience working with refugees or other survivors of trauma, 4. Ability to cover all travel and living expenses in the global south, 5. 3 month minimum commitment, 6. For Ecuador, fluency in oral and written Spanish is also required. To apply, please send a cover letter, resume, and writing sample to Executive Director Emily E. Arnold-Fernandez at mailto:atvolunteer@asylumaccess.org. Please specify your countries or regions of interest and the dates you are available.
-
Union Job: Iowa State Education Association, UniServ Director, Hampton IA
-
Salary: Per Negotiated Agreement (probably $60K to $70K and once in the ISEA system, you could bid positions in other towns); Closing Date: January 15, 2007
-
Application Procedure: Persons interested in applying for this position should submit a letter of application, resume, and three (3) references to: Randy Richardson, Associate Executive Director, Iowa State Education Association, 777 Third Street, Des Moines, IA 50309-1301. (Reference: UniServ Unit Two)
-
Haywood Burns Summer Fellowships, various nationwide
-
The NLG Burns Summer Fellowship provides paid experience at one of 23 different organizations nationwide, as well as student-designed internships. The Haywood Burns Memorial Fellowships for Social and Economic Justice has its roots in the National Lawyers Guild's established tradition of providing legal, political and educational support to the important progressive movements of the day. In the summer of 1964, the Guild, working with the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee, sent lawyers and law students south to provide legal support for the emerging Civil Rights Movement in what became known as Mississippi Summer. In late 1972, New York State indicted 62 prisoners who survived the police assault at the Attica Correctional Facility. None of the police officers were indicted despite detailed reports of excessive force. In 1973, the Summer Projects Committee was formed in part to respond to this situation. The Committee sent law students to assist with the defense of the Attica Brothers, to support the growing farmworker struggles in California, and to support Native American treaty rights in the Pacific Northwest. Over the years, the Summer Projects program has expanded to place hundreds of students with public interest organizations that are struggling to protect and further the civil rights of oppressed people in the United States. Although providing legal work under the direction of their attorney-organizers is still important, the primary mission of the summer projects is to strengthen the student's long-term commitment to promote justice and equality. Fellows have worked with groups to provide legal, political, and educational support on a wide variety of issues, including voting rights; union democracy; workplace health and safety; Native American treaty rights; the death penalty and prison reform; Asian-American women seeking decent wages, conditions and housing; lesbian/gay/bisexual/trans rights; defense of protestors from police harassment and criminal sanctions; Central American refugees; International human rights; and illegal government spying. In 1996 the program was renamed the Haywood Burns Memorial Fellowships for Social and Economic Justice after the death of Haywood Burns, long-time radical lawyer and law professor and former resident of the National Lawyers Guild, whose life and work created a legend to inspire generations to come. Deadline Feb. 10, 2007. For more info, visit http://nlg.org/students/Haywood%20Burns07.pdf
-
Please direct any questions regarding the fellowships to Ian Brannigan: membership@nlg.org 212-679-5100 x14
-
Hispanic Bar Association DC (HBA-DC) Summer Fellowships, 2007, Due April 1, 2007
-
The Fellowships are intended to provide funding for law students seeking experience in public interest law. The HBA-DC Foundation anticipates awarding two fellowships of $5000 each, and one fellowship for $10,000. The fellowships are intended to provide legal services to individuals and groups served by over-burdened and under-staffed legal service entities and to provide students with valuable work experience and exposure to an area of public interest law. Applications will be available at http://www.hbadc.org/, and will include a brief essay. If you have questions, contact Jocelyn Nieva at nieva4544@yahoo.com, or Loretta Garcia at LJG@bowsslaw.com. Deadline: April 1, 2007.
-
Law Clerk for Judge Raner Colllins in Southern District of Arizona, Tucson.
-
Raner Collins is a Clinton Appointee and the first African American to serve as a Federal Judge in Arizona. The job is a 2 year post, pays between 45-50,000 with benefits, and starts August 27. Hours are 8-6 pm.
To apply, send cover letter of one page or less (but keep it interesting!), resume, a 3 page writing sample, and 3 letters of recommendation. If you have questions, calls Anita Garcia at 520-205-4542.
-
Application due ASAP, Feb 23 at the latest!
-
Internships Opportunities for Palestine Activsts
-
The Palestine Freedom Project (PFP) is recruiting interns for the Summer, 2007 term. Interns will be responsible for conducting critical research, developing resources, and managing limited aspects of PFP’s day-to-day operations. These positions offer hands-on experienc with PFP’s innovative application of private sector techniques to grassroots political activism. Stipend will be paid at the conclusion of the internship, $1500 for remote and $2000 for office internships, for three months of full-time work.
Fluency in English is required, and advanced knowledge of other languages (particularly French, Spanish, or Arabic) is highly desirable. To apply, visit www.pfproject.org/intern.html.
-
Due March 31, 2007
-
Summer Interns & Fellows at Community Legal Services, Phil., PA
-
Summer interns are unpaid. Some funding may be available through Philadelphia Bar Association. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Email resume and cover letter to internship@clsphila.org, attn: Sarah Katz. Staff Attorneys and Fellowship applicants should email resume and cover letter to internship@clsphila.org, attn: Carol Horne Penn. For more information, visit http://www.clsphila.org/.
-
Fellowship, Centro de los Derechos del Migrante, Inc. (CDM), Zacatecas, Mexico
-
Centro de los Derechos del Migrante, Inc. (CDM) is now opening its search for fellowship candidates to live and work in Zacatecas, Mexico. Deadline: 3 January 2007. CDM is an innovative transnational workers' rights law center dedicated to providing access to justice and improving working conditions for migrant workers. CDM combats workplace injustice through outreach and community education in major sending areas throughout Mexico; intake, evaluation and referral; policy advocacy, and direct representation. These efforts create an educated and empowered workforce connected to the network of advocates, unions, and worker groups in the US. CDM has also developed two new specialized projects; one designed for women migrants, and another project concentrating on health and safety. A workers committee was also recently formed. The Centro will work with a fellowship candidate to develop a project and submit the proposal. Travel is required. Candidates must feel highly comfortably communicating in both Spanish and English, have a commitment to public interest work, strong communication skills, and the willingness to work collaboratively with others. We are interested in interviewing lawyers or organizers, organizers should have 2-3 years of experience. Please send a cover letter, resume, and references by January 3, 2007 to:
-
Rachel Micah-Jones
Centro de los Derechos del Migrante, Inc.
Calle Victor Rosales, 164
Col. Centro, CP 98000
Zacatecas, Zacatecas, MEXICO
-
Tel: 011 (52) 492 925 2510
Fax: 011 (52) 492 925 2511
Llamada gratis desde Mexico: 01-800-590-1773
Llamada gratis desde los EU: 1-800-401-5901
-
-
N.B. Even though the deadline has passed, please contact Rachel if you are interested. Jake met Rachel at the Austin NLG Convention. Jake also met Laura Raymond, the former national NLG student organizer who is now working with Rachel in Zacatecas. Zacatecas is a beautiful, mountainous, colonial city in north central Mexico-I know because I got altitude sickness there several years ago.
-
Summer Interns, Staff Attorneys, Fellows, Community Legal Services, Philadelphia, PA
-
Summer interns are unpaid. Some funding maybe available through Phila. Bar Assoc. Applications accepted on rolling basis. Email resume and cover letter to internship@clsphila.org, attn Sarah Katz, Chair of Law Student Hiring Cmte. Staff Attorneys and Fellowship applicants should email resume and cover letter to internship@clsphila.org, attn Carol Horne Penn.
-
Fellowship candidates should also include include cover letter that addresses their interest and experience in public interest and poverty law, describing any ideas for fellowship proposal, two brief legal writing samples, law school transcript, list of three references. Fellowship application deadline is July 17, 2007.
-
Community Legal Services
1424 Chestnut St
Philadelphia PA 19102-2505
215.981.3700
Fax: 215.981.0434
http://www.clsphila.org/
-
2007 Albert Sacks Fellowships, The Harvard Law School Immigration and Refugee Clinical Program, Boston MA
-
The Harvard Law School Immigration and Refugee Clinical Program is now accepting applications for the 2007 Sacks Fellowship. The 2007 Sacks Fellowship will fund a graduating law student or early-career attorney to work at the Harvard Immigration and Refugee Clinical Program on a variety of projects. The Fellowship is a perfect opportunity for a new attorney to launch a career in clinical legal education, legal services, and/or public interest immigration law. Further details are at http://www.asylumclinic.org/fellowship.
- The Fellowship is a one-year placement renewable for a second year. Candidates should have a demonstrated interest in immigration law, strong academic credentials, and a commitment to public interest lawyering. The Fellow's position includes Harvard benefits and a salary commensurate with other major public interest fellowship programs. Applications for the 2007 Fellowship will be accepted through February 1, 2007. Interviews and final selection will take place in the first two to three weeks of February.
-
To apply, please send the following to mmuller@law.harvard.edu.
--Resume
--A statement of interest (approximately 750 words) that addresses your potential for clinical teaching and advocacy, your relevant prior experience, and any other information you believe will help the hiring
committee evaluate your candidacy
--A writing sample (approximately 10 pages, preferably in a subject area relevant to the position)
--At least two references (three preferred)
--Law school transcript (an informal copy or list of all grades and coursework is acceptable; applicants selected for final round interviews will be asked to have a sealed transcript sent from their registrar's office)
-
-
-
Soros Justice Advocacy Fellowships
-
The Soros Justice Advocacy Fellowships fund outstanding individuals including lawyers, advocates, grassroots organizers, and activist academics to initiate innovative policy advocacy projects that will have a measurable impact on one or more of the U.S. Justice Fund's criminal justice priorities. The program seeks to identify and nurture emerging and seasoned leaders at either the local, state, or national level. Projects may range from litigation to public education to coalition building to grassroots mobilization to action research and must identify a clear policy goal. Advocacy Fellowships are 18 months in duration and may be implemented in conjunction with not-for-profit organizations.
-
- Iowa Legal Aid Staff Positions
-
Staff Attorney applicants sought for Iowa Legal Aid, with offices in Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Des Moines, Dubuque, Iowa City, Mason City, Ottumwa, Sioux City and Waterloo. Vacancies are anticipated in some, but not all offices. Submit letter of application (indicate geographical restrictions), resume, recent representative writing sample and at least three professional references to:
-
Executive Director, Iowa Legal Aid, 1111 Ninth St., Suite 230, Des Moines, IA 50314-2527
-
Midwest Coalition for Human Rights
-
Midwest Coalition for Human Rights, a funding source and internship clearinghouse for U of MN law students, is having a hard time filling all of their summer human rights (fully funded) internships. Their website is http://www.midwesthumanrights.org/ and the internships page currently says "check back for more details." So, if you're interested in being in the Twin Cities this summer, you can keep checking the website throughout the next couple of weeks, or just shoot an email over to someone there. Apparently they're kind of surprised at the lack of applicants and would be very willing to extend these opportunities to U of Iowa students.
-
Judith Stronach Women’s Rights Fellows for Summer 2007
-
The Center for Gender and Refugee Studies (CGRS), one of the nation’s leading refugee advocacy organizations, is seeking full-time Judith Stronach Women’s Rights Fellows for Summer 2007. The Center, based at UC Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco, works to advance women’s human rights, focusing on gender-based asylum law and immigration policies in the U.S. and internationally.
-
Experience in immigration or asylum law is required, and Spanish language is a plus. Position runs from June 1 to Aug. 15, and salary is approx. $2150/month. Interested applicants should mail or fax cover letter and resume to:
-
Diana Rodrigues
CGRS Summer Law Clerk Position
UC Hastings College of the Law
200 McAllister Street
San Francisco, CA 94102.
-
Grant and Scholarship Opportunities
-
Davis-Putter Schlarship Fund
-
The Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund provides grants to students actively working for peace and justice. These need-based scholarships are awarded to those able to do academic work at the university level and who are part of the progressive movement on the campus and in the community. Early recipients worked for civil rights, against McCarthyism, and for peace in Vietnam. Recent grantees have been active in the struggle against racism, sexism, homophobia, and other forms of oppression; building the movement for economic justice; and creating peace through international anti-imperialist solidarity. $6,000 scholarships are awarded . Must be postmarked no later than April 1, 2006. For more information, visit http://www.davisputter.org/.
-
Equal Justice Works Summer Corps summer grants:
- UI Equal Justice Foundation summer grants:
-
Any University of Iowa College of Law student who has secured public interest employment (with nonprofits, governement entitites, or other organizations) for the summer of 2006 is eligible to apply for an Equal Justice Foundation grant. Students will be selected to receive grants based on three factors: the student's dedication to EJF throughout the 2005-06 academic year, the nature of the public interest employment secured, and the student's fiancial need. Deadline April 12, 2006. For more information and to download an application, visit: http://www.law.uiowa.edu/groups/ejf/
-
UI Class of 1998 public interest summer grants:
Related Links
Donate to NLG
Individuals, corporations and law firms who wish to contribute to the University of Iowa Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild can send a check, made payable to “National Lawyers Guild,” to:
National Lawyers Guild
The University of Iowa College of Law
290 Boyd Law Building
Iowa City, IA 52242-1113
Thank you for your support!
2007-2008 UI NLG Officers
Co-Presidents: Julie Bryant & Tyler Coulson
Treasurer: Cynthia Lockett
Event Coordinator: Megan Tomjack
Newsletter/Listserv Editor: Michelle Booker
Web Editor: Michelle Booker
Publicity Officer: Ming Xu
Contact NLG
national lawyers guild homepage email nlg at the university of iowa