Faulkner Law Student Newsletter
Week of March 21, 2016
This Week's Special Events
- Spring Break: No Classes
Sunday, March 27
- Easter
Monday, March 28
- Classes Resume
This Week's Law Library Hours
Saturday - Sunday: Closed
No Reference Desk Hours
Student Opportunities
Are you interested in subletting?
A law student who attends an out of state law school will be working at Balch & Bingham's Montgomery office this summer. He is looking for a Montgomery apartment or home to sublet. He will be in Montgomery for 6 weeks beginning mid-May after final exams and ending at the end of June. He is open to having a roommate.
If you are interested in subletting, please contact Barrie Wilson, Director of Legal Recruiting, Balch & Bingham LLP, at bwilson@balch.com.
Montgomery County VLP
The Montgomery County VLP sponsors a FREE community legal clinic on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month, from 3:00 pm-5:30 pm. The clinic is held at the Head Start Educational Building at 1100 Adams Avenue in Montgomery.
Gain hands-on experience and network with local lawyers as they answer legal questions about a variety of civil legal issues. Law student volunteers assist with client intake and observe meetings between lawyers and clients (with client consent). For more information, visit http://www.montgomeryvlp.org.
**Volunteer hours count toward Public Interest Society fellowship and Pro Bono Merit recognition.**
For more information or to sign up to volunteer, please contact:
3L MCBF Board Member, Valynda Jerome-Williams: Valynda.Jerome-Williams@faulkner.edu
2L MCBF Rep., Michael Shorey: Michael.Shorey@faulkner.edu
MCBF Secretary, Professor Kelly McTear: Kmctear@faulkner.edu
Ms. JD Fellowship: Rising 3Ls
Greetings,
Ms. JD would like to invite your 2L students to apply for the 2016 Ms. JD Fellowship program! The deadline to apply is fast approaching on April 1st.
Ms. JD partners with the ABA Commission on Women in the Profession to provide mentoring and professional development to our Fellowship class. In addition to receiving financial support and invitations to ABA and Ms. JD events, each fellowship recipient is paired with a mentor chosen from among the Brent Award honorees, Spirit of Excellence Award recipients, and ABA Commission on Women in the Profession Commissioners.
The fellowship is a fantastic way for students to build their network across the country within the legal field! The official fellowship announcement can be found here on Ms. JD's website.
Best regards,
Washington, DC
Programs Assistant
Ms. JD | www.ms-jd.org |
Student Employment Opportunities
Alabama Appleseed
Summer 2016 Internships
Need: 4-6 interns for a 10-week period beginning late May/early June
Agency Contact Person
John A. Pickens, Executive Director
john.pickens@alabamaappleseed.org
Our Organization – Mission and projects
Alabama Appleseed, a statewide 501(c)(3) established in 1999, is affiliated with the Appleseed Foundation located in Washington, D.C. as one of its independent state advocacy centers. Alabama Appleseed’s mission is to work for systemic policy reforms that achieve justice and fairness for low-income and unrepresented and other vulnerable populations that usually have little, or no, voice in developing or changing policies that impact their lives. For more information or to review our current list of advocacy projects, please visit our website: www.alabamaappleseed.org.
Current Advocacy Projects
Based on organizational priorities, interns are assigned to one or more core projects, including:
- Constitutional Reform
- Consumer Debt – Litigation Barriers
- Payday and Auto Title Lending Reform
- Heirs’ Property
- School Breakfast Access & Expansion
- Criminal Justice (prison/sentencing reform and removal of re-entry barriers)
- Juvenile Justice (prohibit in-court shackling; access to mental health; juveniles tried as adults)
- State-funding for Legal Aid
Additionally, there may be opportunities for researching potential advocacy projects (as selected by the Executive and Legal Directors) and preparing background memos related thereto.
Internship Position
Interns will begin in late May/early June, depending on individual availability, and work approximately 10 weeks (or shorter period depending on individual circumstances). This is a non-paid position. However, we will assist applicants in completing externship documentation or paperwork otherwise necessary to obtaining stipends or other financial assistance available through school programs. Also, any travel or expense incurred during work performed on behalf of Alabama Appleseed, excluding commuting to and from the office, will be reimbursed.
Qualifications: The ideal candidate will possess:
- Demonstrated concern for social justice
- Strong verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate information clearly to non-policy oriented audiences both in writing and through public speaking
- Ability to manage time and multiple tasks, working independently or collaboratively, with little supervision, and
- Willingness and flexibility to travel, if necessary
Application Process:
Send resume and cover letter to john.pickens@alabamaappleseed.org.
Alabama Department of Mental Health position
Washington, DC: LSI - Still Accepting Applications
LEGAL STUDIES INSTITUTE
May 25 – July 29, 2016
Washington, D.C.
Extended Deadline: April 6, 2016
PROGRAM COMPONENTS
· Legal Internship: Participants will be placed in a legal internship where they will work full-time and gain substantive experience in the legal profession. Internship sites include private and public interest law firms, D.C. Courts, various nonprofits, and the legal departments of trade associations, corporations and government agencies. Click here for a sample list of past sites.
· Economic Law Course at George Mason University School of Law: Students will take a course titled Economic Foundations of Legal Studies at George Mason University School of Law that will expose them to a broad survey of economic concepts that play a crucial role in determining the outcome of legal disputes. Students who successfully complete the course will receive three academic credits from Mason Law.
· Law & Policy Briefings: Participants will attend exclusive lectures on salient issues in law and policy by prominent judges, lawyers and judicial scholars.
· Professional Development Seminars: Students will have the opportunity to hear from recruiters and practitioners within various practice areas including private firms, contract and election law, international law, the Department of Justice, commercial litigation, public interest law and the Army JAG Corps. Workshops will be held to help prepare participants for success in their law careers, and planned networking events will facilitate professional interaction.
· Attorney Mentor Program: Each participant will be matched with a practicing attorney who will serve as a professional mentor during and after the program. He or she will provide tips for living in Washington as well as career advice and networking contacts.
· Housing: Students will live in fully-furnished apartments in downtown Washington, DC and are matched with other Institute participants as roommates. The apartments are located in the heart of Capitol Hill, just a few blocks from the U.S. Supreme Court, and provide easy access to the DC metro transportation system.
· Scholarships: 70% of students receive scholarship awards based on financial need and merit.
THE ULTIMATE SUMMER EXPERIENCE
“LSI provided me with greater career perspective, experience and networking opportunities than I could have had from any local internship or class work. In addition to the coursework and practical experience I gained, I was also able to live in DC, the mecca of the U.S. Legal/Political World, meet many other interns in various fields of practice, and attend events with judges, senators, former vice-presidential candidates, heads of think tank organizations, supreme court litigators, and even a Supreme Court Justice. I gained more than I could have ever anticipated.”
James Gibson, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law
Intern, Law Offices of Scott Bloch
“LSI exposed me to professional opportunities I never would have had otherwise. Their professional contacts are seemingly unlimited and their enthusiasm for the city is apparent.”
Nichole Woodburn, Thomas Goode Jones School of Law
Intern, Marzulla Law
“LSI provided a pathway for me to establish a career in DC. I was able to improve my legal research and writing skills, while developing a professional life in the DC area.”
Deborah Davis-Brutchen, University of Dayton School of Law
Office of Senator Joe Donnelly
“This was the best summer that I have had while in any school. LSI provided the best legal internship experience possible in D.C. If you want to work in D.C., LSI is a must for any law student”!
Timothy Warren, Florida Coastal School of Law
Intern, U.S. Army JAG
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis until the extended deadline of April 6, 2016.
Complete and submit the online application including the following uploaded materials:
· Topical Essay (250-500 words): “What is the most pressing problem facing the American legal system? Please explain and offer at least one solution.”
· Statement of Purpose (400-500 words): “State your reasons for applying to the Institute, and what you would gain personally, professionally and academically by attending.”
· One-page Professional Resume
Supplemental Materials:
· Official Transcript: Must be mailed in sealed envelope or faxed/emailed directly from home law school.
· Letter of Recommendation: May be from a current/former employer, professor, dean or advisor.
· $50 Application Fee: Must be submitted via credit card at the time of submission of the online application or mailed using contact information below.
Scholarship Application:
· Scholarship Statement (250 words): “Write a brief statement describing your need for a scholarship.” Must be uploaded to the online application system.
· Personal Financial Materials: For more information on what materials are required, please visit http://www.dcinternships.org/wp-content/uploads/Personal-Financial-Materials-Info.pdf.
**Note: Many internship sites request resumes early in the year for their upcoming summer positions, so applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible for premium placement consideration.
Please visit www.DCinternships.org/LSI for more details and to begin an application.
Questions may be directed to Colin Parks at cparks@tfas.org or 202.986.0384.
Tuesday, March 29: 2L Info Session on Clinics & Externships
Tuesday, March 29th: Academic Success Workshop: Final Exam Strategies
Wednesday, March 30th: Dean Fellows Workshop: Final Exam Practice
Thursday, March 31st: BLSA General Meeting
Monday, April 4: PAD Elections
PAD will hold elections for executive board positions on Monday, April 4th at 11:30 a.m. on Monday in Room 180.
If you are interested in holding an active roll in PAD leadership next year, plan to attend this important meeting.
Monday, April 4: Remembering Justice Antonin Scalia
11:30 a.m. - Room 114
Thursday, April 7: BLSA Scholar's Award Dinner
The Black Law Student Association (BLSA) is pleased to announce our 11th Annual Scholar's Award Dinner. The dinner will be held on April 7th at 6:30 p.m. The dinner will take place in the ballroom at the Alley Station located at 130 Commerce Street, Montgomery, Alabama. The message for this year is “Ascending To New Heights: From Leadership to Legacy.” Attorney Danielle Mason of Beasley Allen Law Firm will be the keynote speaker for the evening.
The first inaugural BLSA Scholar’s Award Dinner was held in April of 2005. The BLSA chapter holds this yearly event to acknowledge the scholastic and leadership achievements of its current members. Furthermore, the Scholar’s Award Dinner takes the time to recognize judges, attorneys, and civil rights leaders who continuously make a difference in the community.
Single ticket: $25.00
Couple ticket: $45.00
Attached below is the link to RSVP, and purchase tickets online. Please feel free to email Porcha Anthony for additional information.
https://www.faulkner.edu/e-events/11th-annual-scholars-dinner/
Friday, April 8: 11th Annual Fred Gray Civil Rights Symposium
Thursday, April 14: Trivia Night
Trivia Night at the Coffee Cup
Come test your trivia knowledge against your classmates, professors, and staff.
The law library is hosting a (pub-style) trivia night as a part of its National Library Week (April 11-15) festivities for prizes.
Teams: 3 – 5 people (students, alumni, professors, and/or staff).
Location: The Coffee Cup
Date: Thursday, April 14
Time: 5:00pm
There will be prizes for teams that come in 1st, 2nd, & 3rd places.
If you are interested, please email Professor Coan (ccoan@faulkner.edu) your team name, team members’ names, and contact person by close of business on Wednesday, April 13.
Faulkner University's Thomas Goode Jones School of Law
Email: jdeboer@faulkner.edu
Website: https://www.faulkner.edu/law/
Location: 5345 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery, Alabama 36109
Phone: