Below is information about a summer clerkship opportunity for non-graduating students (including 1L students).
The Labor and Employment Section of the WSBA and SU School
of Law are co-sponsoring a summer fellowship of $10,000. The fellowship will
fund one student to spend 8-10 weeks working in an otherwise unpaid position
related to labor and employment law.
To apply, you should:
1.
Read this
document carefully.
2.
Find a qualifying
placement site. (In general, unpaid positions with non-profits, government
agencies, and unions all qualify, as long as you will be working in the State
of Washington and in the area of labor and employment law.)
3. Complete the application form and submit it along with the other required materials to Matt Etter. Please submit your application ASAP by email: etterm@seattleu.edu
DETAILED GRANT APPLICATION GUIDELINES AND REQUIREMENTS
PURPOSE:
This fellowship, sponsored by the Labor and Employment
Section of the WSBA & SU School of Law, funds summer employment with a
public interest component in the labor and employment law field.
ELIGIBILITY:
Any non-graduating SU law student who will have completed
at least two semesters of law school by the time the proposed project begins is
eligible to apply.
Part-time SU students who will have completed 21 credits
before the clerkship begins are eligible. Full-time students who will have
completed 25 credits before the clerkship begins are eligible. However, grant
applicants are reminded of the American Bar Association limit that no more than
six credits may be taken during the summer while working full-time. This Labor
and Employment Law Summer Clerkship is full-time employment.
GRANT AMOUNT AND REQUIRED WORK TIME:
In
2024, the grant amount will be $10,000. It is expected that projects/placements
will last 330 hours, spread over 8-10 weeks.
TYPES OF QUALIFYING PROJECTS:
This grant funds summer work with a government agency or
non-profit organization (including a labor union). The placement must involve
labor and employment law in the State of Washington. If you have questions
about what organizations/positions qualify, please ask Matt Etter, etterm@seattlue.edu.
There is a list of sample qualifying organizations at Appendix 1 of this
document, but this list is not intended to be
exclusive.
SELECTION CRITERIA:
A selection committee will select the fellowship recipient
based on: (1) the overall quality of the application essay; (2) the applicant’s
demonstrated commitment to labor and/or employment law; and (3) the degree to
which the applicant appears willing and able to provide useful services to the
Sponsoring Organization and the community. The Committee will not discriminate
on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual
orientation, disability, or age. Grades may be considered as supporting
information, but grades will not be the primary criterion.
APPLICATION PROCESS:
Applicants
must submit the following on or before Tuesday, April 30, 2024:
1.
A current resume
and two references. References are
welcome to send a letter of recommendation to Matt Etter by email, but this is
not required. Please provide an email address and phone number for each reference.
2.
An essay on your
interest and experience in Labor and Employment Law. This essay should not be
longer than two double-spaced pages, and should include a description of your
interest in the field; any relevant past experiences (although prior experience
is not required for consideration); the type of activities, experiences, and
employment you plan to pursue in the future; and how you would like to
contribute to this field in your future career.
3.
An accurate transcript of all law school courses taken to date. (An
informal transcript is fine.)
4.
A "Statement of Commitment" from your sponsoring
organization, indicating that the organization understands the requirements of
the fellowship and is willing to sponsor you. (There is sample statement of
commitment located at Appendix 2 of this document.)
5.
The Summer Clerkship Award Application Information Form, located at
Appendix 3 of this document.
APPLICATION DEADLINE:
The original deadline was April 30, 2024 but applications may be accepted beyond this point. E-mail your application to Matt
Etter (etterm@seattleu.edu).
The
Selection Committee intends to make its final determinations swiftly. Applicants
will be notified by e-mail as to whether they have received the grant.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF
APPLICANT:
By applying for a grant, the applicant is agreeing to the
following:
In addition to completing 330 hours of work at the
sponsoring organization, the fellowship recipient must submit a report (2-4
pages in length) to Matt Etter at the conclusion of the fellowship. The report
should certify successful completion of the fellowship’s requirements, and
describe and evaluate their experience and accomplishments. This report is due
by Sept. 3, 2024.
In accordance with ABA requirements and Law School
requirements, students working full-time in the summer may be restricted in the
number of credit hours in which they may enroll; recipients must ensure that
they are in compliance with such restrictions. Because students may not receive
academic credit for paid work, externships cannot be supported by the Grants.
PAYMENT
OF GRANT FUNDS:
1.
Disbursements. The fellowship will be paid in two portions – one at the beginning of
the fellowship, and one at the end. For more information, please ask Dean Bird.
2.
Repayment. If you are unable to complete the fellowship, you may be required to
repay the portion of the fellowship that you have already received. This would
be decided on a case-by-case basis, based on the circumstances.
3.
Taxes.
Please be advised that the grantee may be responsible for applicable taxes.
Questions?: Contact
Matt Etter
