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Fellowship Sponsorship - 2018

Description: 

For over fifty (50) years, Community Legal Services, Inc. (CLS) has been committed to serving the legal needs of low-income Philadelphia residents in civil matters affecting their families, their jobs, their homes, and their incomes. We make a significant difference in the lives of poor and at-risk Philadelphians by providing advocacy, legal advice, and individual representation to thousands of individual clients each year, and by participating in statewide and national advocacy.  CLS also collaborates with other public interest and community organizations to ensure that the rights and needs of those living at the low-income threshold in our society are given a continuing presence in the public policy decisions that most affect them.  CLS’s hybrid model of direct client services coupled with broad based impact work is a nationally renowned model.  By identifying trends we develop policy strategies, engage in systemic and legislative advocacy, and ultimately work to effectuate sustainable change to the client communities we serve.

CLS seeks to sponsor Attorney Fellows to engage in exciting and innovative work that is important to our mission, our clients and is appropriate given the time constraints of the fellowship length, and the interests and experience of the candidate.  Depending on the nature of the project, fellows will be placed in one of our eight legal units: Employment Unit, Housing Unit, Welfare/Public Benefits Unit, SSI Unit, Energy Unit, Aging and Disabilities Unit, Language Access Project, or Family Advocacy Unit.  CLS typically seeks to sponsor attorney fellows for two main foundation fellowships: the Skadden Foundation and the Independence Foundation.  However, CLS may also opt to sponsor Attorney Fellows for other fellowships such as Equal Justice Works or law school based fellowships depending on the needs of the program and the qualifications of the candidate.

The ideal Attorney Fellow sponsorship candidate will possess a demonstrated passion for, interest in and commitment to public interest and poverty law; a demonstrated ability to providing the highest quality legal services to individual clients; will possess excellent legal analysis and research, writing and oral advocacy skills; will have an interest in policy and advocacy work; will possess strong networking, relationship building and communications skills; exhibit sound professional and legal judgment; and illustrate a high level commitment to racial justice and serving low-income communities and clients

Requirements: 

CLS is seeking incoming 3Ls, recent graduates or judicial clerks for Attorney Fellowship sponsorships whose projects will commence in the Fall of 2018.  A  J.D. from an accredited law school and willingness to sit for the Pennsylvania State Bar is required.   

 

 

To Apply: 

What to Include in your application:

Please include a cover letter, resume, recent law school transcript, a list of three (3) professional or academic references and two (2) brief writing samples of 10 pages or less no later than close of business on Monday June 26, 2017.  Community Legal Services values a diverse work environment and strongly encourages women, people of color, people who identify as LGBTQ, and people with disabilities to apply.  CLS invites all applicants to include in their cover letter a statement about how your unique background and/or experiences might contribute to the diversity, cultural vitality, and perspective of our staff and legal services practice.  Furthermore, if you have areas of particular interest or project ideas, we encourage you to state them in your letter.  You can submit your application on CLS’s website online at:

https://clsphila.org/about-cls/available-positions/

Information

Submission Deadline: 
June 26, 2017
Organization Information: 
Community Legal Services
1424 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
United States
Phone: 215-981-3744