Alumni Spotlight: Olivia Mathias '14

Olivia Mathias graduated from UHLC in May 2014 and is currently employed as an Equal Justice Works Fellow, sponsored by the Texas Access to Justice Foundation, at the Cabrini Center for Immigrant Legal Assistance - Catholic Charities. Many victims of human trafficking in the Greater Houston area lack access to the full range of legal assistance to meet their varied legal needs that extend beyond immigration relief, so her project will provide holistic legal representation to victims of human trafficking in Houston and create a framework in which non-profits and pro bono attorneys can meet clients’ wide-ranging legal needs.  She took some time out of her busy schedule to answer a few questions:

1. How did you obtain your first job out of law school?

I started law school knowing that I wanted to practice public interest law. As such, an Equal Justice Works Fellowship was on my radar from the beginning. During my 3L year I worked with the supervising attorney of the Crime Victims Program at Cabrini to develop my project and then went through the steps of the Equal Justice Works Fellowship application process.

2. What experiences/internships did you have that you found to be helpful or beneficial in your job search and career thus far?

My work with immigrant populations quickly exposed me to the human trafficking crisis in Houston. That exposure came from my internships during law school with Kids in Need of Defense (KIND), Children at Risk, and at the Mexican Foreign Ministry. As a firm believer that freedom is a precursor to the exercise of any other right, I became interested in representing victims as they seek to avail themselves of the rights and remedies for which they qualify. As an Equal Justice Works Fellow, I have been able carry out my work in advancing fundamental human freedoms as part of larger network of public interest attorneys with similar goals. Because of the internships I had throughout law school, those partnerships were easier to cultivate. As a Fellow, I am also supported by the experience and vision of my host organization, Catholic Charities’ Cabrini Center, and my sponsor, Texas Access to Justice Foundation.

3. Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give to current law students?

I would advise all students working towards a career in public interest law to apply for an Equal Justice Works Fellowship. The Equal Justice Works Fellowship is a unique opportunity because it allows applicants to create projects that are unique to their interests and aspirations and addresses a pressing need in an underserved community that would otherwise be unmet.  Because of the intimate role I had in developing the project, I am profoundly committed to its success and sustainability.

An Equal Justice Works Fellowship allows a Fellow to launch her public interest career with a dream job the applicant designed.  The Fellow is expected to own the project, accomplish its goals within the two-year span of the Fellowship, and develop plans for sustaining the work.  An Equal Justice Works Fellowship is designed to cultivate the Fellow’s growth and development as a future public interest leader with training and access to an incomparable nationwide network of public interest leaders and experts in wide-ranging fields.

If you would like to connect with Olivia to learn more about her career path, please see your counselor in the Career Development Office. To learn more about Equal Justice Works Fellowships, go to: http://www.equaljusticeworks.org/post-grad/equal-justice-works-fellowships.

Resource Roundtable - Take Control of Your Future: A Guide to Managing Your Student Debt

We’re excited to announce that Equal Justice Works’ student debt e-book, Take Control of Your Future: A Guide to Managing Your Student Debt, is now available free online. Take Control of Your Future is a comprehensive guide to managing student debt, with chapters on understanding student loans and loan consolidation, planning before borrowing, income-driven repayment plans and a step-by-step guide to earning Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

Equal Justice Works also provides monthly student debt webinars. This month, the webinar will be on Tuesday,November 25, 2014 from 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM EST. This is a great opportunity to ask questions. They'll also have an updated on what is happening in Congress regarding the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act and any legislation that might affect Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

The mission of Equal Justice Works is to create a just society by mobilizing the next generation of lawyers committed to equal justice. Equal Justice Works provides a continuum of programs that begin with incoming law school students and extend into later careers in the profession. We provide the nation’s leading public interest law fellowship program and offer more postgraduate, full-time legal positions in public service than any other organization.

Alumni Spotlight: Sireesha Chirala '13

Meet Assistant Attorney General, Sireesha Chirala '13. Sireesha works in the Environmental Protection Division at the Office of the Attorney General in Austin, Texas and was kind enough to answer a few questions about her job search and career path. She practices civil litigation and environmental law and represents the State of Texas in environmental enforcement matters involving violations of State waste, air, and water laws.

How did you obtain your first job out of law school?

At the end of my 3L year, I secured a law clerk position in the Environmental Protection Division at the AG’s office and applied for the UHLC’s Graduate Fellowship program. After graduating and taking the bar, I moved to Austin and completed my fellowship. I tried to develop a relationship with as many lawyers in the division as I could, found some amazing mentors, and worked hard to impress the attorneys who gave me assignments. About a month after I passed the bar, a position opened up in my division. Since I had already been there for three months (I stayed past the official time period for the fellowship) and made a positive impression on the attorneys, I was interviewed with the endorsements and support of almost everyone in the division. I was in the right place at the right time.

Describe what led you to pursue your current position/practice area:

I was drawn to environmental law in law school. I took several classes in this area, wrote my journal comment on this topic, and tried to intern at places where I could develop the skills and experience necessary to start my legal career as an environmental lawyer. Through my internships, I also realized that I wanted to work in the public sector.

I knew that the practice area I wanted to specialize in was smaller and very competitive and that typically a law license is required to be hired in the public sector. But I decided I would give it a shot. Because of the successes that my friends who graduated the years before me had in obtaining positions through their UHLC Graduate Fellowships, I decided that a fellowship would be the best option. The fellowship allowed me to work at the place I wanted to work without the employer (or me) having to worry about pay.

What experiences/internships did you have that you found to be helpful or beneficial in your job search and career thus far?

Definitely my judicial internships. Potential employers always asked me about my judicial internships. Working for judges is an incredible experience and really links together what we study in law school with the practice of law. I was able to see how judges view cases and pleadings; interact with judges on a day-to-day basis; observe a lot of different practice styles, hearings, trials, and courtroom procedures; and hone my legal research and writing skills. My judicial internships have proven invaluable as a new lawyer.

Another thing that was helpful in my job search was the variety in my internship experiences. After 1L year, I interned or did research for a professor every semester and summer. As a result, I worked in the public and private sector and in criminal and civil law. This made choosing a practice area to specialize in, and basically my career path, a lot easier.

Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give to current law students?

Try hard not to compare yourself to other people. It is almost impossible not to do it because of the nature of law school, but you will find the job/career path that is right for you if you pay attention to yourself instead of measuring yourself against others. Most of my friends went into the private sector, but I knew that I wanted to work for the government. Instead of following suit, I followed my interests and luckily, found my dream job.

I also think that varied internships are incredibly important because of the relationships you build with other lawyers from a broad spectrum of practice areas, the work experience you can discuss in interviews, and the exposure to the practice of law that comes with it. So intern or research with different professors while you are in school and if your schedule allows it.
And remember, it’s not a matter of if you’ll find a job; it’s a matter of when.

If you'd like to connect with Sireesha to learn more about her career path, talk to your counselor in the Career Development Office.

Public Interest Opportunity of the Week – Curtin Justice Fund Legal Internship Program

The Curtin Justice Fund Legal Internship Program is managed jointly by the ABA Commission on Homelessness and Poverty and the Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defendants.  The Program will pay a $2,500 stipend to three law school students who spend the summer months working for a bar association or legal services program designed to prevent homelessness or assist homeless or indigent clients or their advocates.

The ideal intern will have a demonstrated interest in public interest law and experience working with poor people or on issues affecting them. All law students are eligible and first year law students are encouraged to apply. The intern must commit no less than eight continuous weeks between May 1 and October 1 to the program of his or her choice. For details and application instructions, go here. Deadline to apply is Monday, March 31, 2014.

Public Interest Opportunity of the Week – Spring Internship at Love 146

Founded in 2002, Love146 is an international human rights organization committed to the end of child trafficking and exploitation. They pursue this by caring for survivors, providing prevention education to at-risk youth, training professionals who work with exploited youth, and empowering an international movement of abolition.

The Love146 Spring Legal Intern will be based out of the Houston, Texas office and will report directly to the General Counsel. The work will provide exposure to a variety of practice areas, including employment, corporate compliance, intellectual property, tort risk management, and international business law. The position may also entail interaction with legislation and policy at the international, national, and state levels.

For more details and application instructions, look for Job ID# 9650 in the Symplicity Job Bank.

Peggy Browning Fellowship Program

The Peggy Browning Fellowship Program provides stipends to 60 to 70 law students who dedicate their summer to advancing the cause of workers' rights by working for labor unions, worker centers, the U.S. Department of Labor, union-side law firms and other nonprofit organizations.  Summer Fellowship stipends will be a minimum of $5,000 per student for the ten-week employment period.  In many cases, mentor organizations will supplement the stipend.

The Peggy Browning Fund works closely with their mentor organizations to ensure that each fellow experiences unique and challenging work assignments. Fellows gain the practical skills required to represent workers and enjoy opportunities to network with their peers and leaders in the field of public interest labor law. 

The ten-week summer fellowship is available to 1st and 2nd year law students. The deadline to apply is January 17, 2014. Go to http://www.peggybrowningfund.org/fellowships for more information.

Public Interest Opportunity of the Week – U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

The SEC’s Summer Student Honors Program is a ten-week opportunity for first year law students to become acquainted with the regulation of the securities market. Participants work with SEC Staff members on projects covering a broad range of the Commission’s mission, such as conducting investigations of industry and issuer practices, assisting in the litigation of enforcement actions, and drafting proposed statutes and rules, to name a few responsibilities. The Student Honors Program offers opportunities to students in Washington, D.C. and several regional offices.  

The application deadline is Monday, February 3, 2014. For more information and detailed application instructions, go to: http://www.sec.gov/jobs/jobs_students_honors.shtml.

Public Interest Opportunity of the Week – U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Texas

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, located in Houston, handles criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits by and against the government, appellate proceedings, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers.

Their law student internship program provides participants with supervised and direct responsibility for criminal, civil, appellate, and post-appellate litigation. This includes conducting research and writing assignments, assisting AUSAs with trial and witness preparation, participating in moot courts prior to appellate arguments, attendance at depositions, mediations, trials, and much more.

Interns are expected to work a minimum of 10 hours per week, beginning in May and ending by the end of August. Positions are unpaid, but they will gladly work with law schools and students to assist in arranging for any available course credit.

Law students must be U.S. citizens and will be required to successfully pass a background investigation adjudicated by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. The investigation will address a variety of areas such as credit history, drug usage, arrests, and mental health treatment. Applicants who may have issues in these areas must be prepared to provide supporting documentation showing that all matters have been resolved as part of the pre-investigation process.

To apply, send a cover letter, resume, shorting sample (ten pages maximum), and unofficial school transcript via email to interns.usatxs@usdoj.gov. Deadline to apply is January 31, 2014.

Work Study Program - Applications due Nov 30

Are you looking for a way to fund your spring internship? Consider participating in the Work Study Program. Students must be working for one of the following organizations: (1) Harris County District Attorney’s Office, (2) Harris County Attorney’s Office, (3) Lone Star Legal Aid, (4) Harris County Public Defender’s Office, (5) City of Houston Legal Department, (6) Texas Civil Rights Project, (7) U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, Office of the Associate Chief Counsel, or (8) Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office.

Students who have secured a volunteer position with our partner organizations and can demonstrate financial need may be eligible to receive $15/hour through the UHLC Work Study Program. Applications for Spring 2014 are due on November 30th. The number of work study awards is determined by the amount of funding the Law Center receives from main campus, which varies each semester. More information about the application process can be found at: http://www.law.uh.edu/pil/workstudy.asp

If you have any additional questions, please contact Bhavika Shah in the Career Development Office.

Public Interest Opportunity of the Week – United States Attorney, Southern District of Texas

The United States Attorney’s Office is seeking second- and third-year law students for Spring 2014 Internships. Their internship program provides participants with supervised and direct responsibility for criminal, civil, appellate, and post-appellate litigation. This includes conducting research and writing assignments, assisting attorneys with trial and witness preparation, participating in moot courts prior to appellate oral arguments, attendance at depositions, medications, and trials, and much more.

Interns are expected to work a minimum of 10 hours per week, beginning in early February and ending by the end of May. The position is unpaid, but participants would be eligible to receive course credit through the Externship Program.

Applications are due by November 1, 2013. Students should send a cover letter, resume, shorting sample (10 page maximum), and unofficial transcript via email to interns.usatxs@usdoj.gov.

Public Interest Opportunity of the Week - TCRP

The Texas Civil Rights Project Houston office (TCRP) seeks motivated law students for the spring and summer. TCRP fights race, sex, and disability discrimination, along with police brutality, while supporting free speech, prisoner rights, privacy, nd voting rights through cutting edge impact litigation. Our law clerks are involved in all aspects of litigation, including investigation of potential cases; work with clients; preparation of complaints, discovery, and motions; and assistance with depositions, hearings, and trials in federal and state court. We generally give a lot of responsibility to our law clerks and an opportunity to be part of the cases that are changing Texas and the nation.

Students interested in fixed-term internships (either full-time or part-time) during the academic year should email a resume and cover letter to TCRP's Regional Director, Amin Alehashem, at amin@texascivilrightsproject.org. 

Students who work with TCRP are eligible to apply for work study funding. See http://www.law.uh.edu/pil/workstudy.asp for more details.

Public Interest Brown Bag Series: Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program

The Public Interest Brown Bag Series is a series of programs hosted by the CDO which focus on opportunities in the government and the public interest sector. On Tuesday, September 24, join us for the first installation focusing on the Presidential Management Fellows Program.

                                              

Bearing the Presidential moniker, the PMF Program is a flagship leadership development program at the entry level for advanced degree candidates. The PMF Program provides fellows with a fast-paced opportunity to gain experience and develop their talents during a 2 year appointment with a federal agency. The PMF Class of 2014 application will be available October 1 – October 15.  

3Ls interested in this opportunity should plan to attend on Tuesday, September 24 from 12 – 1 pm in the CDO. Space is limited, so please RSVP to Bhavika Shah at bashah2@central.uh.edu. Snacks and drinks will be provided, but please feel free to bring your lunch.

Public Interest Opportunity of the Week – International Human Rights Fellowship

Human Rights Watch (New York and Washington, DC) seeks law students and graduate students for a full-time, paid International Human Rights Fellowship beginning in September, 2014. Fellows monitor and draft reports on human rights developments in various countries, conduct on-site investigations, and engage in advocacy and media outreach aimed at publicizing and curtailing human rights violations. 

Deadline to apply is Wednesday, October 1, 2013. For more details and application instructions, log into the Public Policy Handbook (available under “shortcuts” on the right hand side of your Symplicity homepage).

Public Interest Opportunity of the Week – 2013 Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair

Equal Justice Works is gearing up for the 2013 Conference and Career Fair, which will be in Arlington, VA October 25 – 26, 2013.  Public interest and government agencies from across the country flock to this conference to recruit students for internship and permanent employment opportunities.  Additionally, the Conference offers a variety of workshops on the latest news and developments in areas of public interest law.  Student registration is open August 13 – September 12, 2013 for students seeking interviews.  Please see the registration site for more information. 

Please note that due to NALP guidelines, 1L students are not eligible to interview with employers during the Equal Justice Works Career Fair. However, 1L students may informally talk to employers during "Table Talk" on Friday and Saturday.

PILO members may be able to seek reimbursement for travel expenses to the EJW Conference and Career Fair. Contact current PILO president, Lauren Fischer, for more details. 

Public Interest Opportunity of the Week: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Legal Honors Open House – Entry-level attorneys at HUD are hired exclusively through their Legal Honors Program. Applications will be accepted until September 20, 2013, but before you apply join HUD at their Houston office (1301 Fannin Street, Suite 2200) for their Legal Honors Open House on September 4, 2013 at noon. Students will learn more about the Legal Honors Program and externship opportunities in their office. RSVP to attend by calling HUD at 713-718-3126. Don’t miss this opportunity to get insider information on the application process and what they may be looking for in candidates. 

Career Counselors in the Commons – Gloria Aldridge, Associate Regional Counsel of HUD, will be joining the CDO in the Commons on September 3, 2013 at noon. All students are welcome to stop by to introduce themselves and discuss externship opportunities for the spring or summer.

Judge Advocate General’s Corp

Judge Advocate General’s Corp
Lawyers for the Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, and Marines
2013-2014

Becoming a lawyer for the military can be an extremely rewarding way to serve your country while gaining exposure to a wide-variety of practice areas. Being in the Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps is truly one-of-a-kind experience. In your first few years as a Judge Advocate, you might be fully litigating a criminal trial, defending the U.S. Government against a taxpayer whose house got damaged by falling aircraft parts, or briefing troops on “shoot/don’t shoot rules of engagement” and laws of armed conflict. Each branch of the military has its own JAG Corps and hires interns and officers through a unique application process:

Army JAG
The Army JAG will be hosting an informational presentation on September 19, 12:00 – 1:00 pm, in 209 BLB. Learn more about the Army JAG Corps; who they are, what they are looking for in prospective candidates, and what you can expect upon joining. All students are encouraged to attend!

Internships – Every Army JAG applicant must (1) fill out an online application form and (2) interview with a Field Screening Officer by November 1, 2013. A Field Screening Officer will be interviewing UHLC students on-campus September 20, 2013. You will be able to bid for an interview through the “Recruiting” tab in Symplicity August 26 – 29, 2013. The online application form can be found at: http://www.goarmy.com/jag/applications-and-procedures.html.

Permanent Positions – Same process as above.

Air Force JAG
Internships – Detailed application instructions for the Air Force JAG internships will be posted on www.usajobs.gov during the application acceptance period. For their 2013 summer internships, the application acceptance period was November 28 – December 27. Stay tuned for updates about the application acceptance period for their 2014 summer internships.

Permanent Positions – Current students can apply for permanent positions through the Graduate Law Program (for 1Ls) and One Year Law Program (for 2Ls). Graduating law students can apply through the Direct Appointment Program. More information can be found here: http://www.airforce.com/jag/.

Navy JAG
Internships – Due to budget constraints, the Navy JAG currently offers only unpaid internships. Click here for the application form: http://www.jag.navy.mil/careers_/careers/opportunities_internship.html.

Permanent Positions – The Student Program is the most common way to become a Navy JAG Officer. It enables law students to commission in the inactive Navy Reserve while attending law school. Upon law school graduation, bar admission, and successful completion of the Navy Office Development School, participants are appointed as active-duty Navy judge advocates. You must fill out an online application and request an in-person interview. Detailed information can be found here: http://www.jag.navy.mil/careers_/careers/opportunities_sp.html. Deadlines for 2013 – 2014 have not been posted yet. Stay tuned for updates.

Coast Guard JAG
Internships – CGJAG has unpaid internships at most legal offices and accepts applications on a continuous basis. Students interested in applying for a summer internship at a particular legal office must send a cover letter, writing sample and resume (and perhaps additional information) to the point of contact for that legal office. To receive contact information for particular legal offices or if you just want more information on available positions, contact the Direct Commission Lawyer Program Manager.  LT Kate Grossman Kate.J.Grossman@uscg.mil. More information can be found here: http://www.uscg.mil/legal/recruit/DCL_FAQ.asp.

Permanent Positions – The application deadline for the Coast Guard’s Direct Commission Lawyer Program is September 16, 2013 and December 16, 2013. All applicants for Coast Guard officer commission programs work with a Coast Guard recruiter to prepare and submit their application. Recruiters likewise arrange an officer interview, commissioning physical exam, and background screen; key components to your application package. Click here for more detailed information about the application process and how to find a recruiter: http://www.gocoastguard.com/find-your-career/officer-opportunities/programs/direct-commission-programs.

Marine Corp JAG
Students interested in the Marine JAG should contact a recruiter for more information. Recruiters can be located here: http://www.marines.com/home.

Federal Government Internships

If you are interested in an internship with the federal government during the 2013 Summer, you should log on to www.usajobs.gov to search for openings now. Enter 0999, the series designation for all law clerk positions, into the search box to see opportunities currently advertised. Don’t delay as many postings do not stay up for long and check back regularly.

Keep in mind that not all agencies will post on USA Jobs. You should also utilize the Government Honors & Internship Handbook available via the right-hand side of your Symplicity homepage. 

U.S. Department of Transportation – Honors Program

The Department’s Honors Attorney Program offers new law graduates (and recent law graduates completing judicial clerkships or fellowships) a unique opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of the Department’s diverse law practice. During the two-year program, which begins in even-numbered years (September 2014), honors attorneys rotate once in the Department’s Office of the General Counsel and in up to five Chief Counsels’ Offices of the Department’s operating administrations.

Characteristics of a Competitive Candidate

·       Class Rank: G.P.A of 3.0 or higher; Top 50% required

·       Demonstrated commitment to public service

·       Exceptional writing and analytical skills

·       Law journal or secondary journal preferred but not required

·       Clinical activities, moot court, trial advocacy preferred but not required

·       Demonstrated involvement in activities beyond required coursework

·       Ability to adapt quickly to new work environments

Salary

All honors attorneys, including those with judicial clerkship experience, are hired at the GS-11 pay grade (including the locality adjustment for the Washington, D.C. metro area). You may visit www.opm.gov for more information on the GS scale and to get the latest salary information.  All honors attorneys are eligible to receive a promotion to the GS-12 pay grade after one year. 

Application Instructions

The application period is OPEN.  Applications for the Class of 2014 through Friday, August 30, 2013. For more information on how to apply, please log into www.psjd.org (account registration is free).

The Department of Justice, Attorney General’s Honor Program

The Attorney General’s Honors Program is the centralized recruitment program that is the only way for new attorneys to enter the Department of Justice in an attorney position and is the largest and most prestigious federal entry-level attorney hiring program of its kind.

Participating Components
Every year, various component offices and U.S. Attorneys' Offices hire entry-level attorneys through the Honors Program. The number of entry-level attorney positions varies from year to year.  See the DOJ website for a list of participating components.

Selection Criteria
Selections are made based on many elements of a candidate’s background including a demonstrated commitment to government service, academic achievement, leadership, law review or moot court experience, legal aid and clinical experience, past employment, and extracurricular activities that relate to the work of Justice and the relevant component.

How to Apply
Candidates interested in starting their career as an entry-level attorney with the Department of Justice must apply through the Attorney General’s Honors Program via an on-line application. For employment beginning in Fall 2014, the application opens on July 31, 2013, and closes on September 3, 2013.  Read the application tips and checklist and assemble requested information before starting the application here.

Important Dates
•    July 31 – application opens
•    Tuesday after Labor Day, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time – application deadline
•    Late September – interview candidates selected
•    Mid. Oct – early Nov. – interviews conducted
•    Late Nov. thru Feb. – offers extended

For More Questions
Renata Gowie, Appellate Chief at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Houston, is the UHLC DOJ Ambassador. As an ambassador, she is the point of contact for law students who may have questions about legal opportunities with the Department of Justice. She can be reached at: renata.gowie@usdoj.gov

Equal Justice Works – Upcoming Programs and Deadlines for Graduating 3Ls

Equal Justice Works (EJW) is an organization dedicated to mobilizing the next generation of lawyers committed to equal justice.  EJW hosts the largest public interest career fair in the nation, and provides a staggering number of fellowship opportunities to public interest lawyers.

 2013 EJW Fellowship Program

Create your own job!  The Equal Justice Works Fellowship Program partners talented lawyers wanting to pursue public interest legal careers with host organizations and sponsors to support projects that serve underrepresented populations across the country. The two-year, postgraduate fellowships allow attorneys passionate about public interest law to develop and implement new legal projects that impact thousands of lives and serve communities in desperate need of legal assistance. Fellows receive a competitive salary and generous loan repayment assistance, a national training and leadership development program and additional support during their tenure.  Applications are due by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, September 17, 2013.  Students interested in this opportunity should visit with a career counselor about proposal ideas and the application process.  See also the EJW Fellowship site.

Hear what Sarah Loeffler, a recent grad of UHLC, had to say about her then upcoming EJW Fellowship with the Montgomery County Women’s Center:

"When I entered law school, I knew that I wanted to work in the area of public interest law and I knew that I wanted to work with victims of domestic violence.  But, my ideas ended there.  With some amazing mentorship with my internship at the Montgomery County Women's Center and help from many at UHLC, I began to envision exactly which problems I wanted to fix in the area of domestic violence law and how I wanted to fix them.  However, finding a job which met these specifications was nearly impossible.

I realized that an EJW fellowship would allow me to make the changes I envisioned for domestic violence victims--in essence creating my ideal job.  I have no idea what the next two years will bring.  But, I know that I want to help people.  I know that with the help of professors and career counselors and supervising attorneys, I have created a project that can affect change because it focuses on the gaps in the law.  So, my hope for the next two years is to make lasting change, however that may come.  Whether it is all of Montgomery County, ten people, two people, I know I want to make a lasting difference in the best way I know how.  And, I know that my EJW fellowship will give me that capacity to make that difference, to fill the gaps, and to finally fulfill those early ambitions."

2013 AmeriCorps Legal Fellowships – Veterans Legal Corp

The Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Legal Fellowship program was created in 1993 to address the gaps in the legal aid community through pro bono management and direct representation. Starting in August 2013, AmeriCorps Legal Fellows will focus almost exclusively on serving the legal needs of veterans. Veterans Legal Corps Fellows and law students will provide legal assistance to low-income and homeless veterans with issues related to disability benefits claims, barriers to housing and employment, debt, family law, and other legal issues.  

The first class of Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Veterans Legal Corps Fellows will begin their service in August and September and serve for one year with the likelihood of renewal for an additional year.  Lawyers interested in becoming a Veterans Legal Corps Fellow can visit the Equal Justice Works website for host site locations and available positions.  Equal Justice Works will continue to post more fellowship positions through the end of July as they become open.  Applicants should check the website regularly.