Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Santa Clara Law, Entrepeneurs' Law Clinic Director

Santa Clara University School of Law, High Tech Law Institute
Director, Entrepreneurs' Law Clinic & Clinical Law Faculty Member


The Santa Clara University School of Law is in the process of creating an Entrepreneurs' Law Clinic. The School seeks a qualified candidate to serve as Director and clinical faculty member. The position is an eleven-month appointment. The position will report to the Director of the High Tech Law Institute.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS: Essential attributes and responsibilities of this position are:
1. J.D. degree and California bar membership in good standing.
2. At least five years experience providing legal services to start-up businesses on formation, financing, corporate, customer/vendor and operational matters.
3. Ability to work independently but within the context of a complex academic environment.
4. Knowledge of the Silicon Valley venture capital and entrepreneur community.
5. Outstanding skills at advising clients, drafting legal documents, mentoring and teaching.
6. Experience teaching students and/or lawyers, particularly in a seminar, clinical or skills development setting (preferred).

RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. As a clinical faculty member, the hired individual will:
- Provide year round instruction in clinical law courses, including the direct supervision of law students.
- Provide extensive supervision of students providing services to clients.
- Counsel and mentor students.
2. In addition, as the Director of the Entrepreneur's Law Clinic, the hired individual will:
- Develop the clinic's academic curriculum.
- Decide which clients to represent (and when they have outgrown the clinic) and, with students' help, provide legal services to ensure the clinic's clients' legal needs are met.
- Develop a referral network of attorneys who can provide services to clinic clients that the clinic isn't providing.
- Manage the clinic's administration, including possible supervision of administrative staff.
- Create and work with an advisory board of diverse constituents.
- Explore ways to increase the clinic's financial self-sufficiency.
- Make effective presentations to faculty, bar, university, civic and professional audiences.
- Under current School of Law procedures, Supervising Attorneys/Clinic Directors are eligible to receive two one-year appointments followed by renewable multi-year contracts.

RANK AND SALARY: Commensurate with experience. Santa Clara University offers competitive salaries and excellent benefits. If you have specific salary requirements, please note them in your cover letter.

Starting Date: May 1, 2013

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Applications will be considered until the position is filled. For priority consideration, interested parties should submit their application by January 25, 2013.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Applications should include a cover letter and a resume or c.v. Applications should be addressed to:

Entrepreneurs' Law Clinic Faculty Search Committee
c/o Ms. Laura McGeehon
Santa Clara University Law School
500 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, CA 95053

Applications also may be sent via e-mail to Ms. McGeehon at lmcgeehon@scu.edu

Santa Clara University is a comprehensive Jesuit, Catholic university located in California's Silicon Valley, offering its 8,800 students rigorous undergraduate curricula in arts and sciences, business, and engineering, plus master's, Ph.D., and law degrees.

Distinguished by the highest retention rate and ranked second among all master's universities in the West by U.S. News and World Report, Santa Clara University is California's oldest operating institution of higher-education. The University is focused on creating an academic community that educates citizens and leaders who will build a more just, humane, and sustainable world.

Santa Clara University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, committed to excellence through diversity and inclusion, and, in this spirit, particularly welcomes applications from women, persons of color, and members of historically underrepresented groups. The University will provide reasonable accommodations to individuals with a disability.

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Student Opportunity: Internship with EPA Region 6 (Dallas) Office of Regional Counsel (Deadline Feb. 22, 2013)

See below.  In addition to internship opportunity announcement, there are some sample forms and other information attached.

EPA Region 6 Office of Regional Counsel
2013 Summer Intern Honors Program
The Office of Regional Counsel, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6, located in Dallas, Texas, is looking for law students to participate in our Summer Intern Honors Program. Under this program, EPA Region 6 will select students to work as interns in an intensive training program that will expose them to demanding front-line environmental enforcement (civil and criminal) or counseling work this summer. The interns will work at EPA’s office in Dallas. Selections will be made on a rolling basis until all positions are filled, and no applications will be accepted after February 22, 2013. Accepted law students can expect to work on both substantive and procedural matters involving almost every EPA program (e.g., Superfund, RCRA, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, etc.), attend strategy meetings with agency clients and negotiations with the regulated community in enforcement and other cases, receive formal briefings from agency expert attorneys on current front‑burner issues, and participate in local environmental bar educational and social sessions.
Applicants must meet the requirements of EPA Order 3100.4B (text attached; if the order is not legible in the electronic format in which it appears, send an email to Ms. Chang-Vaughan and it will be sent to you in PDF format) to participate in this program. The Summer Intern Honors Program will begin May 20, 2013, and will end August 2, 2013. Region 6 understands that students may be available only during part of the summer and we will try to accommodate student availability. Although Region 6 encourages applicants from across the nation, EPA cannot provide travel expenses. Moreover, as stated in Order 3100.4B, a student volunteer is not a Federal employee for any purpose other than injury compensation and the Federal Tort Claims Act. These are unpaid positions. Service is not creditable for leave accrual or any other employee benefit.
Students who wish to participate in the Summer Intern Honors Program must submit a:
1. Cover Letter (Applicant=s Letter of Intent)
2. Resume
3. Writing Sample
4. Sponsorship Letter from Applicant=s Law School (model attached)
5. EPA Form 3100-14 (attached) (applicant should fill out only the areas which call for the applicant=s name, citizenship information, proposed arrival date, proposed termination date, and information regarding the sponsoring institution. Applicants must also sign Form 3100-14 at Aparticipant signature@).
Applicants should E-mail, post, or fax these documents to:
Ellen Chang-Vaughan (6RC-EW)
Office of Regional Counsel
U.S. EPA Region 6
1445 Ross Avenue
Dallas, TX 75202-2733
As indicated in the order, students must be sponsored by a law school. The law school must submit a letter which states the applicant=s eligibility and explains the relevance of the Summer Honors Intern Program to the student=s educational goals. A model letter is attached to this announcement. Questions regarding this program should be addressed to Ms. Chang-Vaughan at (214) 665-7328. The Environmental Protection Agency is an Equal Opportunity Employer; women, minorities and students with disabilities are encouraged to apply.


MODEL LETTER:
[date]
Ms. Ellen Chang-Vaughan
Office of Regional Counsel
U.S. EPA Region 6 (6RC-EW)
1445 Ross Avenue
Dallas, TX 75202-2733
Re: EPA Region 6 2013 Summer Intern Honors Program
Dear Ms. Chang-Vaughan:
This is to inform you that [student name] is a student in good standing at [law school name] and eligible for participation in the EPA Region 6 2013 Summer Intern Honors Program. If [student name] is accepted to the Summer Intern Honors Program the work [he/she] performs under the Program will be relevant to [his/her] educational goals in that [he/she] has a strong interest in environmental law, and the experience will complement [his/her] law studies at [law school name]. If you have any questions regarding this matter, please call me at [telephone number].
Sincerely yours,
[name]
[title (law professor or school official)]


Environmental
Protection ORDER 3100.4B
Agency
May 19, 1980
______________________________________________________________________________
PERSONNEL- GENERAL
______________________________________________________________________________
VOLUNTEER SERVICE PROGRAM
1. PURPOSE. This Order contains EPA policies and procedures relating to the acceptance of volunteer services from eligible students under section 301 of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978.
2. BACKGROUND. The Volunteer Service Program was authorized by the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 so that agencies could accept student volunteers for educationally related work assignments in nonpay status. This program is not a substitute for existing youth programs where students are given Federal appointments and receive pay. Rather it provides an additional opportunity to provide work experiences to students who by choice or design are not entitled to compensation.
3. DEFINITIONS.
a. AVolunteer service@ is service performed by a student, with the permission of the institution at which the student is enrolled, as part of a program to provide educational experience for the student. Such student service is to be uncompensated and will not be used to displace any employee or to staff a vacancy which is a normal part of EPA=s workforce.
b. AStudent@ is an individual who is enrolled no less than half-time in a high school, trade school, technical or vocational institution, junior college, college, university, or comparable recognized educational institution.
c. AAgreement@ is a written document developed jointly by the school agency outlining the responsibilities of each and providing conditions surrounding the student=s work assignment. The agreement form is shown in Figure 1.
4. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES. The Volunteer Service Program is designed to enrich educational programs; relate education to the occupational needs of both EPA and participating students; provide students the opportunity for early career exploration and work exposure; and to encourage interest in environmental studies and careers.
______________________________________________________________________________
Dist: Initiated by: PM-212


ORDER 3100.4B
May 19, 1980
______________________________________________________________________________
5. POLICY. It is EPA Policy to use the Volunteer Service Program to promote career awareness and to carry out affirmative action objectives. The EPA reserves the right to control the character and extent of the work assignments and studies, especially where safety is involved or where the public interest or EPA programs may be affected.
6. RESPONSIBILITIES.
a. Supervisors of Hosting Organizations. Supervisors who decide to participate in volunteer service assignments must secure prior approval from their servicing personnel office for each assignment.
b. Servicing Personnel Office. The servicing personnel officer is responsible for making determinations as to compliance with the standards of this order and for keeping records of the service of all student volunteers.
7. STATUS OF STUDENT VOLUNTEERS. Volunteer services must be consistent with the appropriate laws on the use of minors. Students participating in this program are not considered Federal employees for any purpose other than (a) the Federal Tort Claims Act and (b) the Federal Employees compensation Act.
8. PROGRAM RESTRICTIONS. The Volunteer Service Program is subject to the following standards:
a. Volunteer services must be consistent with the programs of the Agency, offer the prospect of fruitful interchange of ideas and information between EPA personnel and students, and not interfere with EPA programs. The program should benefit the volunteer=s educational goals.
b. Appropriate space, facilities, and equipment must be available and not require additional acquisitions other than for normal replacement of expendable supplies.
c. Host organizations are not prohibited from accepting volunteers who are relatives of EPA employees but must avoid giving them any preferential treatment.
d. The EPA funds will not be used to pay any salary costs for the research and studies associated with a volunteer=s project. However, indirect supervision may be provided by the host organization as deemed necessary.


ORDER 3100.4B
May 19, 1980
______________________________________________________________________________
e. Volunteers must agree that the results of their research and study, including material and inventions subject to copyright or patent, will be dedicated to the public and become part of the public domain except as otherwise authorized in accordance with Agency policies and procedures, or approved as a waiver by the Agency.
f. Each volunteer will be expected to use the facilities and equipment with care and complete the work study project within any prescribed time limit.
g. Volunteers may not sign requisitions for supplies and equipment or any other Agency document, supervise any other individual, or operate a Government vehicle.
9. PROGRAM PROCEDURES.
a. Request for Approval. Offices seeking to participate in voluntary service projects must submit through normal supervisory channels to their personnel officer the following:
1. A completed and signed EPA Form 3100-14, Volunteer Service Program Participant Agreement (Figure 1), for the proposed participant, detailing the proposed program of study, its expected duration, supervision, facilities and equipment required, and including waivers of the right to compensation and the right to any patents or other intellectual property acquired as a result of voluntary service at EPA.
2. A completed Standard form 171, Personal Qualifications Statement for each volunteer.
3. A letter from the volunteer=s educational institution attesting to the relevance of the proposed work study program to the student=s educational goals.
4. A SF 52, Request for Personnel Action with name of student, date of birth, social security number, proposed effective date and host office.
b. Approval by the Personnel Office. Upon approval by the servicing personnel office, the requesting organization will be notified.
c. Termination of Study. The host organization must notify the servicing personnel office of the termination of each volunteer=s program of study. An SF 52 Request for Personnel Action-Termination, should be completed and submitted to the servicing personnel office within ten (10) workdays after termination of study.


ORDER 3100.4B
May 19, 1980
______________________________________________________________________________
10. DOCUMENTATION OF SERVICE.
a. General. Although student volunteers are not Federal employees, their service is creditable for competitive examination purposes and participating schools, particularly those which award credit for service, may require certification of periods of service. Therefore, volunteer service must be documented on the Standard form 50 (SF 50), ANotificationof Personnel Action,@ completed as shown in Figures 2 and 3. Copies of SF 50 should not be forwarded to the Office of Personnel Management nor should agencies transmit data on student volunteers to the Central Personnel Data Files (CPDF). Each SF 50 must carry the remark: AUnder 5 U.S.C. 3111, a student volunteer is not a Federal employee for any purposes other than injury compensation and the Federal Tort Claims Act. Service is not creditable for leave accrual or any other employee benefits.@
b. Appointments. Student volunteer appointments will be documented as Volunteer Service - without compensation.
c. Separations. When the period of volunteer service has ended, an SF 50 must be prepared to show termination (not resignation). The SF 50 should also include under item 30, ARemarks,@ a statement of the total service in hours or days rendered between the appointment and separation dates.
d. Records. For each student volunteer, the servicing personnel officer will establish an official personnel folder (OPF) to contain copies of appointment and termination SF 50s, SF 171 of student volunteer, and a completed Volunteer Service Program Agreement. These documents should be filed on the right (permanent) side of the OPF. When volunteer service is terminated, the OPF should be sent to the National Personnel Records Center, following the instructions in FPM Supplement 293-31.
e. Acknowledgment. Hosting organizations are encouraged to acknowledge successfully completed volunteer assignments with a AThank you@ letter to the school and the volunteer.
11. PROGRAM REPORTING AND EVALUATION.
a. No formal reporting requirements are established at this time; however, servicing personnel officers should maintain the following information on each volunteer student for possible future reports:


ORDER 3100.4B
May 19, 1980
______________________________________________________________________________
1. Academic Level - data should reflect information to show if student is enrolled in, (1) high school, (2) trade school, (3) vocational or technical institution, (4) junior college (Associate Degree), (5) college (Baccalaureate Degree), (60 graduate school or comparable recognized educational institution.
2. Academic discipline (See FPM Supplement 292-1)
3. Duty station (by State) (See GSA world wide geographic location codes, November 1976)
4. Sex
5. Race or ethnic background (See FPM chapter 713, section 3)
b. This Volunteer Service Program will be reviewed and evaluated as part of the Agency=s overall Personnel management Evaluation Program.
/s/
Edward J. Hanley
Deputy Assistant Administrator
for Management and Agency Services


ORDER 3100.4B
May 19, 1980
______________________________________________________________________________
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
VOLUNTEER SERVICE PROGRAM PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
________________________________________________________________________________________
NAME OF PROGRAM PARTICIPANT CITIZEN OF U.S. PROJECT SUPERVISOR
Q YES Q NO
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PROPOSED ORGANIZATIONAL ASSIGNMENT (Include geographical Location)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PROPOSED ARRIVAL DATE ACTUAL ARRIVAL DATE PROPOSED TERMINATION ACTUAL TERMINATION
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SPONSORED BY EDUCATIONAL NAME AND ADDRESS OF INSTITUTION (If AYES@)
INSTITUTION
Q YES Q NO
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
DESCRIBE PROJECT(S) ON WHICH PARTICIPANT WILL WORK, INCLUDING SCOPE AND ANTICIPATED HOURS PER WEEK
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT TO BE MADE AVAILABLE BY EPA
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________DEGREE OF SUPERVISION TO BE EXERCISED BY EPA
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
ASSISTANCE AND DEGREE OF COOPERATION REQUIRED OF OTHER AGENCY PERSONNEL BY PARTICIPANT
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PROJECT SUPERVISOR CERTIFIES THAT SERVICES TO BE PRODUCED BY THE PROGRAM PARTICIPANT ARE NOT SERVICES PROVIDED FOR THROUGH EPA AGENCY OPERATIONS
_____________________________________________
SIGNATURE OF SUPERVISOR
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
THE VOLUNTEER AGREES THAT:
a. Any and all claims for compensation from the government of the United States are waived for any services performed;
b. The Government has a non--exclusive royalty--free license to use or reproduce and patent or copyright material which is developed as part of and during participation in this program; and
c. He/she will adhere to the administrative instructions and requirements of the agency while on EPA premises.
______________________________________________
PARTICIPANT SIGNATURE
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PERSONNEL OFFICE SIGNATURE OF PERSONNEL OFFICER OR DESIGNEE DATE
CONCURRENCE
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
EPA Form 3100-14 (Rev. 5-80) Replaces the 7-79 edition and the 12-77 edition which was entitled AUnpaid Work-Study program.@

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Student Internship Opportunity with Children's Trust (Eugene, Oregon)

 
Internship with "Children's Trust." For description of their work, see ad below.  Location of internship would be with organization in Eugene, Oregon.
 
Legal Intern – Spring, Summer, Fall


Our Children’s Trust is seeking several law students interested in public interest environmental

law during the spring, summer, and fall of 2013. Summer internships are 10-weeks, full-time.

Spring and fall internships can be full- or part-time, and work can be done remotely or in our

office in Eugene, Oregon.

Our Children’s Trust (OCT) is a nonprofit organization with the purpose to protect earth’s

natural systems and atmosphere for current and future generations. OCT is coordinating a legal

campaign in every U.S. state and against the federal government on behalf of youth based on the

public trust doctrine. The TRUST Campaign uses Atmospheric Trust Litigation (ATL) as the

legal tool to compel governments to act and consists of litigation and administrative petitions to

force the carbon reduction necessary to restore climate equilibrium on the planet. To that end,

OCT is working with attorneys and top climate scientists from around the world. OCT is also

part of a coalition of organizations coordinating a global youth-led climate legal initiative.

The legal intern will assist OCT’s legal efforts in state and federal actions, and internationally.

The intern’s work will directly support ATL and will include assisting attorneys around the

country and world in their ATL efforts; working with experts; conducting legal research; drafting

legal memoranda; drafting, reviewing, and editing complaints, briefs, and motions; and assisting

with discovery.

We rely heavily on legal interns for these tasks, placing a premium on careful, accurate, and selfdirected

work. Each intern is responsible for monitoring her/his own workload. Julia Olson, OCT

Executive Director and an attorney on the federal ATL case, will supervise the intern, providing

the intern with varied work experiences and holding regular meetings with the legal interns to

review and discuss their work.

The intern will be exposed to administrative, jurisdictional, statutory, and constitutional issues in

multiple jurisdictions. This is an unprecedented opportunity for a law student to be part of a

cutting-edge legal strategy, by involving an ancient doctrine of sovereign responsibility and

working with some of the top attorneys and scientists from around the world to address the

climate crisis.

You can find out more about OCT at our website:
www.ourchildrenstrust.org

Compensation:


These internship positions are unpaid, however, OCT is willing to support law students in

securing outside funding or academic credit for their work.

To Apply:


Please send a cover letter, resume, copy of law school transcript (unofficial version is okay), a

short writing sample (no more than 7 pages), and the names, addresses, and phone numbers of

three references (at least one legal) to Elizabeth Brown at: ebrown@ourchildrenstrust.org. Please

put “Legal Internship Spring/Summer/Fall 2013” in the subject line. There is no application

deadline, but we will start reviewing summer applications on January 31, 2013.

Monday, January 21, 2013

Re-post of Stanford LLM Fellowship - deadline February 1, 2013

The Stanford folks recently sent a reminder about this fellowship and the upcoming deadline.  See post about this on November 17.   Here's the notice that was circulated previously.


Teaching Fellow for Stanford Law School LLM Program in Environmental Law & Policy
The Teaching Fellow for the Stanford Law School LLM Program in Environmental Law & Policy will work with LLM student candidates in the program. The fellow will assume significant academic, advising and administrative responsibilities. He or she will be responsible for organizing and teaching three quarters of a colloquium addressing current issues and scholarship in the environment, energy, other natural resources, and related fields

. The fellow will also organize and facilitate informal workshops, outside speakers, and academic and social events; be responsible for day-to-day administrative management of the LLM program; advise and counsel LLM candidates on academic and personal issues; respond to inquiries from prospective LLM applicants; and interact with our faculty in support of the LLM program goals and needs. The fellow will work with the Executive Director of International Graduate Programs, and under the supervision of the Faculty Director of the Environmental & Natural Resources Law & Policy program. The fellow will also fully participate in the admissions process, working under the guidance of the Associate Dean for Admissions to admit the new class. Although this is a full time position, the fellow should have a reasonable amount of time to conduct his or her own research, and will have ready access to affiliated faculty for that purpose.
Candidates for this position are expected to have strong academic records and references. Professional experience in the area is also valuable. This position is intended primarily for people who expect to pursue an academic career in a field that is reasonably related to the specialization and who hold a JD, JSD or LLM from a U.S. law school. Applicants are expected to commit to this position in one year increments, starting in July 2013, with a two-year commitment preferred.
Those interested should apply by letter, summarizing their complete educational qualifications and experience, as well as any other information that might help us in making selections. Each applicant should also send us an official law school transcript, a resume, copies of any publications, and three letters of recommendation (at least two from law professors) commenting on the applicant’s suitability for the position in terms of teaching ability, analytic capability, interpersonal skills, and writing ability.
Apply by February 1, 2013
Your application package should be sent to:
Stanford Law School
Attention: Angela Arroyo
559 Nathan Abbott Way
Stanford, CA 94305-8610
Or by email to: aarroyo@stanford.edu

Applicants must also submit their resume electronically through the applicant tracking system at
http://jobs.stanford.edu/find_a_job.html and reference job number 50140.

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Fellowship: LLM Fellowship, Vermont Law School, Agriculture Law Center (Deadline: March 1, 2013)

A fellowship announcement for the new Vermont Law School Center for Agriculture and Food Systems.  Provides a JD graduate with the opportunity to work closely with the Center director and law students on a variety of projects to promote sustainable local and regional food systems while earning an LLM.  It's a 2-year program that comes with a full tuition waiver and a stipend.  Deadline is March 1, 2013.

Full announcement follows:


Center for Agriculture and Food Systems Fellowship

 

The Center for Agriculture and Food Systems (CAFS) at the Vermont Law School is pleased to invite eligible candidates to apply for a two-year Fellow position from August 2013 through July  2015.  The fellowship combines the opportunity to obtain an LLM degree in Environmental Law from one of the leading environmental law programs in the nation with the opportunity to work in the cutting edge field of Agriculture  and Food  Law with experienced environmental, agriculture, and food law practitioners and students in a setting focused on promoting sustainable agriculture and food systems. The fellowship includes a full tuition waiver, provides a $30,000 stipend, and diverse, marketable experience in teaching, curriculum development, advocacy work.

 

Center for Agriculture and Food Systems

 

The Center for Agriculture and Food Systems has a dual mission:

 

 (1) To train the next generation of sustainable food and agriculture law and policy advocates and practitioners in support of robust local and regional food systems; and

 

(2)  To develop legal tools, disseminate information, and advocate for sustainable agriculture and food systems.

 

For more information about the Center for Agriculture and Food Systems, please visit:

 


 

 

LLM in Environmental Law

The LLM in Environmental Law degree is designed for a select group of post-JD candidates seeking to specialize in the practice of environmental law, or pursue careers in teaching, research, or public policy.  Candidates include recent law school graduates and practicing lawyers who wish to develop an environmental law specialty.  The cornerstone of the LLM program is the Graduate Seminar.  A minimum of 30 academic credits are required to complete the program. For the CAFS Fellow, this 30 credit program is spread over two years.  Vermont Law School's environmental law curriculum includes more than 50 courses in environmental law, policy, science, and ethics. For more information about the LLM program, please visit:


 

Description of the CAFS Fellow Position

In addition to pursuing the LLM degree, the CAFS Fellow will work part-time (at least 20 hours per week) on CAFS projects.  The Fellow will work closely with the CAFS Director on both aspects of the Center’s mission.   The Fellow will work with and mentor students.  The Fellow will also work with clients (farmers, government, and non-profits) to develop legal tools and trainings such as legislative proposals, legal and policy analysis, template agreements, and famer and producer workshops.   The Fellow's responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

 

•Working with and supervising student clinicians to provide legal assistance to help farmers, producers, and NGOs, including developing template legal instruments for food production, distribution, and marketing; legislative and regulatory analysis and reform proposals;   developing and conducting training and workshops on legal issues impacting farmers and food producers;

•Engaging in outreach to the food and agriculture community, including representing CAFS at food and agriculture events;

•Assisting the Director in identifying grant opportunities and drafting grants to accomplish projects of the Center; and

•Assisting in the development of innovative legal and policy ideas for promoting sustainable agriculture regional and local food systems.

 

The Fellow may also develop and teach a sustainable agriculture law course.

 

Summary of CAFS Fellow Qualifications

 •JD from an ABA accredited law school

 •Minimum of two years of relevant legal experience, including experience practicing agricultural or environmental law is preferred

 •Strong legal research and writing, interpersonal, and communications skills

 •Demonstrated commitment to sustainable agriculture and local/regional food systems, including work in food and agriculture settings is preferred

 •Admission to the LLM in Environmental Law program at Vermont Law School (application for LLM admission can occur concurrently with application for CAFS Fellow) 

 •Admission to Vermont Bar (can be obtained within first year of CAFS Fellow position)


How to Apply

Applicants interested in the CAFS LLM Fellowship must submit the LLM application to the Vermont Law School admissions office by March 1. In addition to the materials required for the LLM applications, applicants must submit a brief statement (not longer than one single-spaced page) explaining the applicant's interest in the fellowship. Decisions on the CAFS LLM Fellowship will be made by May 1.

If you have any questions about the Center for Agriculture and Food Systems LLM Fellowship, please contact Laurie Ristino, Director of the Center at lristino@vermontlaw.edu.

For general admissions questions, please contact the admissions office at admiss@vermontlaw.edu.

 

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Position: Deputy Chief of the Environmental Enforcement Section, DOJ Environment Division (Deadline: Feb. 7, 2013)

Plum job, but only for a fairly senior litigator (position is part of the Senior Executive Service).  The Environmental Enforcement Section leads all of the civil enforcement work of the Environment Division within the Justice Department.

Here's link to full USAJobs web posting:  https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/334862200

SALARY RANGE:

$119,554.00 to $179,700.00 / Per Year

OPEN PERIOD:

Monday, January 07, 2013 to Thursday, February 07, 2013

SERIES & GRADE:

ES-0905-00

POSITION INFORMATION:

Full Time - Permanent

DUTY LOCATIONS:

1 vacancy in the following location:
Washington DC Metro Area, DC United States

 




 




DUTIES:


The Environmental Enforcement Section (EES) is the largest litigating section in the Environment and Natural Resources Division and one of the largest in the Department of Justice. The Deputy Chief is one of three in EES who oversee a staff of attorneys and legal support who are responsible for bringing civil judicial actions under most federal laws enacted to protect public health and the environment from the adverse effects of pollution, such as the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, Oil Pollution Act, RCRA and the Superfund law (CERCLA). The breadth of the Section's practice is extensive and challenging. It includes cases of national scope, such as cases against multiple members of an identified industry, to obtain broad compliance with the environmental laws.

Through its enforcement of the Superfund law, the Section seeks to compel responsible parties either to clean up hazardous waste sites or to reimburse the United States for the cost of cleanup, thereby ensuring that they, and not the public, bear the burden of paying for cleanup. The Superfund law is also a basis of the Section's actions to recover damages for injury to natural resources that are under the trusteeship of federal agencies.

The Section works closely with the Environmental Protection Agency and with federal agencies that serve as trustees for federal natural resources, such as the Fish and Wildlife Service, or serve as managers for federal lands, such as as National Parks and Forests, when those resources and lands have been contaminated by third parties.


QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

Back to top
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is required by law to review the executive qualifications of each new career appointee to the Senior Executive Service (SES) prior to appointment.To be considered for this position, applicants must submit a written statement addressing the five (5) Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) listed below. (See'HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED').

You must hold a J.D. degree, be an active member of a bar and you must be a U.S. citizen to qualify for this position
 

Friday, January 11, 2013

Human Rights Position: Human Rights Defenders Program, Senior Associate (Human Rights First); Deadline: January 25, 2013

Here's something that is non-environmental - human rights related work with Human Rights First, as a Senior Associate.  Application deadline is January 25, 2013.

Here's a link to the position announcement on the Human Rights First website:  http://ejob.bz/ATS/PortalViewRequirement.do?reqGK=648262

Some excerpts from job ad:

The Senior Associate is responsible for devising, planning, coordinating, and executing strategies for influencing U.S. human rights policy on the range of issues covered by Human Rights First’s Human Rights Defenders (HRD) program. He/She also plays a key role in formulating and achieving Human Rights Defenders program goals and objectives; fostering relationships with human rights advocates, nongovernmental organizations, and the U.S. government; conducting advocacy; engaging in research; developing recommendations, reports, website content, press materials, and other documents; developing specific projects; assisting in efforts to raise funds to support the program; and supervising interns.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: Law and/or another advanced degree in a discipline related to international human rights.

ANNUAL SALARY: Competitive with comprehensive benefits package

START DATE: Immediately

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: January 25, 2013. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.

APPLICATION PROCESS:
Please complete the online application found at our website www.humanrightsfirst.org under ABOUT US / JOB OPPORTUNITIES links.
You will be requested to provide:
· Resume (upload)
· Cover letter (secondary upload*)
· Writing sample (secondary upload*)
· Names and contact details for three (3) references (enter online)

Required Skills·Experience engaging in legislative and/or policy advocacy with the U.S. government;

·Strong understanding of U.S. government decision-making processes, and sound policy judgment;

· A minimum of five years of relevant professional human rights experience;

·Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to foster relationships with human rights advocates, nongovernmental organizations, and the U.S. government;

·Expertise in at least one country or region of the world with an understanding of the human rights issues and political dynamics in that region (regions would include Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America, or the former Soviet Union);

·Willingness to travel internationally;

·Excellent written and oral advocacy skills and a demonstrated ability to translate highly technical material for a variety of audiences and effectively edit the work of others;

·Track record of conducting human rights advocacy and achieving clearly defined objectives through the use of both legal and non-legal strategies;

·Understanding of international human rights law and enforcement mechanisms (both regional and international);

·Excellent project management skills, capacity to take initiative, to finish assignments under pressure and to work collegially with others;

·Understanding of international and regional political policy-making structures and institutions; and

·Ability to work comfortably in a variety of settings, including legal, academic, and governmental.
Optional SkillsUSEFUL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

·Experience promoting and protecting human rights in diverse international environments;

·Expertise in issues relating to religious freedom;

·Experience working with U.S. embassies, in-country partners and/or volunteer attorneys;

·Experience working with the press to achieve advocacy goals; and

·Fluency in a language other than English.

Position for Junior Attorney/Jan 11, 2013 Application Deadline: Interior Department, Office of Solicitor, Division of Land and Water Resources (Washington, DC)

Happy new year.  For no good reason, I found myself directed to the USAJobs website (while looking at something else) and the available attorney positions there.  This item piqued my interest. (One lesson from this - if you are looking for a law job, surf the USAJobs website often.).  Note the super-short application time window - January 7 - January 11, 2013 (tomorrow/today, depending which time zone you are in).

The position is in the Solicitor's Office of the Interior Department, with job assignment in the Land and Water Resources Division, focusing on CERCLA/Superfund compliance work. The position apparently is suitable for a new/junior attorney and would start at GS-12.

One other thing - for those unfamiliar with the structure of the Interior Department, the Office of the Solicitor (currently Hilary Tompkins) is the equivalent to the General Counsel's Office in other federal agencies.

Here's a link to the full USAJobs announcement:

https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/335027800

Job Title:Attorney - Advisor, GS-0905-12/13/14
Department:Department Of The Interior
Agency:Office of the Solicitor
Job Announcement Number:SOL-2013-0014

SALARY RANGE:

$74,872.00 to $136,771.00 / Per Year

OPEN PERIOD:

Monday, January 07, 2013 to Friday, January 11, 2013

SERIES & GRADE:

GS-0905-12/14

POSITION INFORMATION:

Excepted Appointment Not-to-Exceed 2 Years, - Full-Time

PROMOTION POTENTIAL:  14

 


Duties:
As an Attorney-Advisor with the Department of the Interior, Office of the Solicitor, Division of Land and Water Resources, Branch of Environmental Compliance and Response, your specific duties will include:
  • Provides legal services on all aspects of enforcement of and compliance with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA).
  • Counsels clients with respect to agency implementation of CERCLA response action.
  • Interprets and applies applicable statutes, regulations, and policies to support legally defensible decision-making; articulates legal reasoning to support those decisions orally and in writing.
  • Represents the Department of the Interior in negotiations and proceedings related to its actions in taking CERCLA response and enforcement action; and provides litigation support to the Department of Justice on these matters.

Basic Qualification Requirements

Applicants must be law school graduates with LL.B. or J.D. degrees AND be admitted to the Bar.

Applicants must also meet one of the following:

--possess at least 1-year of professional legal experience following law school graduation; OR

--have a second professional law degree; OR

--meet any of the criteria indicated below:

(a) academic standing in top one-third of law school graduating class;

(b) graduation with academic honors;

(c) significant participation on the law school’s law review;

(d) significant participation in the law school’s moot court competition;

(e) significant participation in a clinical legal aid program;

(f) significant summer law office clerk experience; or

(g) other equivalent evidence of clearly superior achievement.

GS-12/13/14:

In addition to meeting the basic qualification requirements described above, applicants must also have the following additional years of professional legal experience for the grade level indicated:

--GS-12 = 1 year

--GS-13 = 2 years

--GS-14 = 3 ½ years

Applicants must be an active member of a bar, in good standing, of a state, territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico bar. Selectee will be required to provide proof of bar membership during the pre-employment process.

You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the position by the closing date of the announcement.

Applicants must be law school graduates with LL.B. or J.D. degrees. You are not required to submit transcripts at this time. Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the above requirements. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: http://www.usgs.gov/ohr/oars/quals/foreign.html.