Fred T. Korematsu Center for Law and Equality, Seattle University School of Law
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLC Advocacy Fellow - Full-time fellowship, 20-month term
About the Center: The Korematsu Center advances justice and equality through research, advocacy, and education. Its advocacy work includes involvement in civil rights litigation and policy; its research includes work on book projects and other scholarship; and its education efforts include its work with students and outreach to the general public. The Center engages in various forms of advocacy, including serving as counsel in affirmative civil litigation, representing individuals in post-conviction petitions, and filing amicus briefs in state and federal court on relevant civil rights and criminal justice issues. Recent notable work by the Center includes: success at trial challenging Arizona ban on ethnic studies programs; two civil lawsuits filed in Alaska challenging use of psychiatric medication and hospitalization of Native Alaskan children in foster care; representation of prisoners in post-conviction petitions seeking to overturn unconstitutional sentences based on juvenile and late adolescent conduct; and amicus briefs filed in various district and circuit courts, and the United States Supreme Court, challenging the Executive Branch’s exercise of power related to immigration (travel ban, DACA rescission) and use of the census.
About the Fellowship: This advocacy fellowship represents the Korematsu Center’s commitment to helping to train aspiring civil rights advocates and to providing a pathway for those seeking to transition into the field. The fellowship is designed for an attorney who has practiced for at least three years, with the goal of helping the fellow to develop the skills and understanding of civil rights law and litigation to prepare for a future career promoting social justice. While not a teaching fellowship, the experience gained could position the fellow to apply for teaching positions at the close of the fellowship. The Korematsu Center is recruiting for a 20-month fellowship position to begin in the fall of 2020. Start date is negotiable. Duties: The Advocacy Fellow will assist the Korematsu Center Executive Director, Director, and Assistant Directors with the day-to-day operation of the Center, which will include the following: 1) Assist with Task Force on Race and Washington’s Criminal Justice System. Approximately 50% of time would be expected to be devoted to this project. 2) Help to develop, oversee, and support the Korematsu Center’s litigation and advocacy efforts, including its current direct representation cases in Alaska involving the treatment of Alaska Native foster children, including one case currently scheduled for trial, August 2021. 3) Further develop the Civil Rights Amicus Brief Project, including: a. Researching and drafting amicus briefs on civil rights and criminal justice issues b. Engaging communities through sign-on strategies c. Developing and sustaining relationships with other advocacy organizations to support their work via amicus contributions 4) Assist in the Civil Rights Clinic. The clinic is a 6-unit course offered twice each academic year. The advocacy fellow may co-teach classes and supervise clinic students on litigation and advocacy efforts. In the past, these efforts have included direct representation in federal district and appellate courts, amicus briefs before the Washington Supreme Court and the United States Supreme Court, and advocacy reports. The clinic is currently capped to 4 students each semester who are supervised by Robert Chang and Assistant Directors Melissa Lee and Jessica Levin. Any work the fellow does with the clinic would be done as part of this supervisory team. 5) Supervise student fellows and summer interns working on Center cases and projects.
Required Qualifications: • J.D. degree or equivalent; • Active bar membership (state or U.S. territory); • Excellent communication, research, writing, and analytic skills; • Facility with Microsoft Office and computerized legal research (Westlaw or Lexis); • Demonstrated commitment to advancing civil rights and/or social justice. Desired Qualifications: • Active Washington state bar membership (desired but not required) or eligibility to join Washington State Bar Association (through reciprocity) • Minimum of 3 years of federal or state litigation or judicial clerkship experience preferred • Teaching experience and civil rights litigation experience helpful but not required; • Proven ability to work collaboratively in a team; • Self-motivated with ability to take initiative on projects. Compensation and Benefits: Full-time (37.5 hours per week), exempt position. The Advocacy Fellow will report directly to the Executive Director and Director of the Korematsu Center. Annualized compensation, not including benefits, is $65,000. Total direct compensation for the 20-month term, not including benefits, is $108,333.33.
Standard Seattle University benefits package. Seattle University: Seattle University, founded in 1891, is a Jesuit Catholic university located on 50 acres in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood. More than 7,200 students are enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs within nine schools and colleges. U.S. News and World Report’s “Best Colleges 2019” ranks Seattle University 8th in the West among universities that offer a full range of masters and undergraduate programs. Seattle University is an equal opportunity employer. In support of its pursuit of academic and scholarly excellence, Seattle University is committed to creating a diverse community of students, faculty and staff that is dedicated to the fundamental principles of equal opportunity and treatment in education and employment regardless of age, color, disability, gender identity, national origin, political ideology, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. The university encourages applications from, and nominations of, individuals whose differing backgrounds, beliefs, ideas and life experiences will further enrich the diversity of its educational community. For further information about the Korematsu Center, see the Center’s website, http://www.law.seattleu.edu/centers-and-institutes/korematsu-center. To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, references, and writing sample online via the Seattle University Portal.
To ensure full consideration, please submit your application by September 21, 2020, after which review of applications will begin. Position available until filled. Please visit https://seattleu.csod.com/ats/careersite/JobDetails.aspx?site=2&id=1284 for more information and to apply. Questions about the search process should be directed to Robert S. Chang, changro@seattleu.edu, Professor of Law and Executive Director of the Korematsu Center.
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West African Community Council (WACC)
WACC is hiring a new immigration staff attorney! If you know anyone who might be interested and qualified, read more at https://www.indeed.com/job/immigration-staff-attorney-e826fedcce73743b.
The direct contact for new applications will be steven.denton@waccofseattle.com. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.
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Assistant Director - American Law Division with Congressional Research Services
Open: 08/12/2020 to 10/07/2020
Salary: $131,239 to $197,300 per year
The Congressional Research Service (CRS) seeks a senior manager to lead its American Law Division (ALD), one of CRS’s five research divisions. CRS provides objective, nonpartisan, and authoritative legislative research, analysis, and consultative support exclusively to the U.S. Congress.
This position serves as head of the American Law Division, a major CRS research division. In this capacity, and reporting directly to the Director of CRS, the Assistant Director manages, within the interdisciplinary environment of CRS, a professional legal staff in its production of written products and consulting services in support of the U.S. Congress.
Working directly with congressional committees and Members of the House and Senate, attorneys within CRS’s American Law Division contribute to an informed national legislature as it considers legal and policy issues of importance to the American people. Areas of research, analysis, and consultative support include all facets of law in the United States, including administrative, business, civil rights, constitutional, energy, environmental, health, immigration, intellectual property, international, labor, military, national security, procurement, tax and trade law.
The Assistant Director ensures that written and consulting work is of the highest quality and consistently meets the Service’s standards of objectivity, nonpartisanship, timeliness, legislative relevance, authoritativeness, and accessibility. In addition, the Assistant Director actively collaborates with managers and staff in CRS’s other research divisions to ensure that a multifaceted approach to policy issues is taken to best inform Congressional decision-making.
The Assistant Director leads implementation of the Service’s agenda for legal issues within the division’s areas of responsibility, including approaches, frameworks, and methodologies for addressing policy and legislative issues. This includes demonstrating personal intellectual leadership in monitoring congressional needs in the various policy areas and assuring access to the intellectual capacity needed to meet current and changing needs of the United States Congress at a sustained level of excellence. This also includes exercising overall responsibility for the oversight and management of the division’s human, financial, material, and information research assets, including a staff of approximately 65 employees. In performing these activities, the Assistant Director is responsible for ensuring that the research, analytical, and consulting activities of the division are aligned with the legislative needs of Congress and with the priorities, goals, and policies of CRS for meeting those needs.
The Assistant Director also serves as one of the chief advisors to the Director, counseling the Director on all aspects of the research management and operations of CRS and recommending specific policies and procedures for improving the Service’s overall quality, efficiency, and effectiveness. The Assistant Director serves as a member of the Director’s senior management team and serves as a principal CRS representative to Members, committees, and officers of the United States Congress.
CRS is fully committed to workforce diversity. Interested applicants must apply onlinehttps://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/576048300.