Washington State Minority and Justice Commission Annual Symposium

The Washington State Minority and Justice Commission is proud to announce that it will host its annual symposium on June 6, 2018, at Seattle University School of Law. 

This year’s symposium, Legal Financial Obligations (LFOs): Beyond Defining the Problem; Advancing Solutions, will be held in conjunction with Exploring Policy Implementation and Alternatives, a conference organized by the University of Washington Department of Sociology that will take place immediately after the symposium at Seattle University School of Law.  

RSVP HERE by May 31.

These events are FREE and open to the public. More details about the symposium will be posted on the Commission’s website closer to the symposium date.

Equal Justice Works Summer Corps 2011

Equal Justice Works Summer Corps is an AmeriCorps-funded program that in 2011 will provide 700 law students with the opportunity to earn a $1,132 Segal AmeriCorps Education Award for dedicating their summer to a qualifying legal project at a nonprofit public interest organization. To learn more about the program please visit the Summer Corps eligibility page.

The award application goes live on March 16, and applications are due by April 5. Last year seven SU students took home this educational award - you can too!

2010 Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair

Attention all 2Ls and 3Ls!

If you are committed to or exploring the possibility of a career in public interest or with the federal government, please consider attending the upcoming Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair. Coinciding with this event, SU Law will be hosting its Second Annual networking event for all student attendees and D.C.-area SU Alumni. This is a great way to get an instant network of contacts in D.C.

This year's Career Fair will be the weekend of October 22-23 in Bethesda, Maryland. CPD and AtJI will be offering scholarship reimbursements of up to $250 for your attendance at the Conference and Career Fair and the SU Student-Alumni networking event, to take place on Thursday, October 21.

If you are interested in attending, please make note of the following important dates:

• Monday, August 30 - EJW registration opens. This is the first opportunity to see which employers will be participating in this year's Fair. Please do not register for the Fair until you have heard that you are receiving the CPD/AtJI reimbursement.
• Tuesday, September 7 - Applications for SU stipend due to Stacey Lara-Kerr (slara@seattleu.edu) by NOON. Please submit a one page statement of interest detailing your interest in attending the Fair.
• Wednesday, September 8 - Applicants for the stipend will be notified whether they have received the stipend by this date.
• Friday, September 24 - All applications to interview for positions at the Fair due to EJW. Additional information about the application process and important dates is available.

A list of last year's employer participants can be viewed at the 2009 EJW Conference and Career Fair website.

If you have any questions about the EJW Fair or the application process, please contact Stacey Lara-Kerr.

Serve on the WA AtJ Board’s Law School Relations Committee

WA Access to Justice Board’s Law School Relations Committee

Position Sought: Committee Member (volunteer)

Open to: All law students – 1Ls and 2Ls are strongly encouraged to apply.

Time commitment: Students are expected to serve on committee for at least one year.

Application process: No application is necessary but if you are interested, please let Allison Durazzi know about your interest and when you would be able to join.

Contact: Allison Durazzi, WSBA Justice Programs Coordinator, allisond@wsba.org or (206) 733-5942.

The ATJ Law School Relations Committee seeks law student members. The Committee fosters collaboration among Alliance members and law schools to ensure that every law student in the state has an understanding of the importance of public interest law, familiarity with the Alliance for Equal Justice community, an opportunity to work with Alliance members in some capacity as a student, an appreciation for the work that is being done on behalf of low-income clients, and a commitment to support the Alliance's work in some capacity after law school. This unique committee is comprised of GU, SU and UW law students, faculty and staff working alongside staff and volunteers from the Washington State Alliance for Equal Justice. This committee offers students an opportunity to work closely with their future colleagues in the Alliance for Equal Justice on important projects that ultimately benefit low income clients in our communities.

Students are needed to actively participate in the committee and subcommittees which include the Fellowships subcommittee and the Outreach Subcommittee. If you have any questions about the Committee, contact Diana Singleton, Director, Access to Justice Institute at singletd@seattleu.edu.

QLaw Summer Grant Applications now available!

Applications for the 2010 summer grant are now available online. CLICK HERE to download an application. Applications are due March 19, 2010. For more information about the application process, contact summergrant@q-law.org.

The QLaw Foundation Summer Grant Program funds innovative public interest projects that benefit the GLBT community and/or people living with HIV/AIDS. Past grantees include Melissa Nystrom (GLBT Community Center), Sarah White (Northwest Women’s Law Center), Ashland Johnson (Lambda Legal), and Adrien Leavitt (QLaw Foundation Legal Clinic).
Projects and Organizations. Students are encouraged to create their own projects and connect with sponsoring organizations well in advance of the application deadline. The QLaw Foundation offers applicants a list of potential sponsors that have projects addressing issues relevant to LGBT rights or the rights of people with HIV/AIDS. These organizations are existing 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations or government agencies with staff attorneys who are qualified and available to supervise the student.

Volunteers. Meetings are typically on the first Monday or Tuesday of every month, either noon telephonic meetings or evening in person meetings. Contact summergrant@q-law.org for details.

Sponsoring Organizations. The grant committee seeks potential sponsoring organizations to list in the 2010 Grant Application. If you are a legal organization or part of legal organization interested in formulating a project focused on the civil rights of GLBT persons or persons with AIDS/HIV and might be interested in hosting a QLaw grantee for the summer of 2010, please contact Summer Grant Subcommittee Chair James Spencer, at summergrant@q-law.org for more details.

Qualifications. Law students who seek summer internships promoting LGBT rights or the rights of persons living with HIV/AIDS may apply. The QLaw Foundation values diversity and encourages all interested students to apply. QLaw Foundation specifically encourages applications from:

Students attending Washington state law schools or those seeking internships for the benefit of Washington state residents.

Students with a demonstrated interest in and commitment to LGBT rights and/or the rights of persons living with HIV/AIDS.

Social Entrepreneurship Grants

For a list of social entrepreneurship grants and granting institutions to support poverty work, see: http://maximinlaw.wordpress.com/2009/11/16/collection-of-social-entreprenuership-grants/

Currently listed, with deadline date:
• Echoing Green (Dec. 2, 2009)
• Berkeley Law Foundation (Jan. 15, 2010)**
• Draper Richards Foundation (no deadline)
• Initiative for Public Interest at Yale (Feb. 5, 2010)

**NOTE: 2009 SU grad Riddhi Mukhopadhyay received this fellowship last year, so please come see us if you are planning to apply!

AIDS Action Public Policy Fellowship

AIDS Action (Washington, D.C.) is offering its Pedro Zamora Public Policy Fellowship for summer 2010 to graduate and undergraduate students and young professionals who seek experience in HIV related public policy and government affairs. Candidates need strong research, writing, and organizational skills and a willingness to work in a professional office. Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment is critical. Familiarity with HIV-related issues and the legislative processes is preferred. Fellows must commit to working a minimum of 30 hours per week for 8 weeks. People of color, women, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals, and HIV positive individuals are encouraged to apply.

For details and application instructions, go to http://www.aidsaction.org/internship-mainmenu-186/zamora-fellowship-mainmenu-220

Public Policy Analysis: Food Policy (Washington, D.C.)

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities has an internship available for a law student who is interested in food policy. The Food Assistance department assists states in designing state food stamp programs for persons ineligible for the federal program and in implementing reforms to make the food stamp program easier to access and administer. The food stamp intern assists in researching, preparing, and distributing analyses and studies about federal or state policies to improve participation in food stamps and other low-income nutrition programs. The intern also analyzes food stamp law in order to help organizations represent their clients.

Requirements: Candidates should have an interest in nutrition policy, demonstrated statistical skills, and the ability to pay close attention to detail. SPSS/STATA experience is a plus. Also, the candidate should have a general interest in welfare reform/income support policy, as he/she will likely work in that department as well. Law students interested in food policy are strong encouraged to apply.

For details, go to http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=2718

Think Tank Internship (Washington, D.C.)

Third Way, a Washington, D.C., think tank, is offering a summer internship for law students with an interest in national politics. You must have strong analytical and research and writing skills. In addition to their day to day tasks, interns will gain hands-on experience working closely with Third Way’s senior management team, which has extensive political, communications, and policy experience, forged at every level of government and advocacy: the White House, federal agencies, the House and Senate, presidential campaigns, and national non-profit advocacy organizations. Interns will have the unique experience of participating directly in Third Way’s policy development. Interns may be asked to write research memoranda, assist in the drafting of policy briefs used for presentations to staff and members on the Hill, and help to organize and attend briefings, events and press conferences.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, so APPLY ASAP if you are interested. Information about the internship and application instructions may be found at www.thirdway.org/internships

Careers in Government Affairs

Are you interested in public policy issues? Are you a persuasive speaker and writer? Do you enjoy the political process? You may want to explore a career in Government Affairs. Whether titled "lobbyist," "legislative advocate" or "public policy specialist," this may be the career for you. Even if a JD is not required for eligibility, your SU Law training in analysis, legal writing and negotiation are extremely marketable in this field. Visit the CPD website discussion of "Alternative Careers" for tips about how to market your law training.

There currently are openings in the Government Affairs field at Microsoft, Community Health Plan and Dendreon Corporation. If you need to build a resume of experience in the area, please visit CPD to discuss how to make connections and learn about this exciting field.