Category: Career Planning: Job Postings/Symplicity

Each summer, the City of Cleveland Department of Law seeks law students for unpaid legal clerkships. The position provides a unique and unforgettable opportunity to gain valuable work experience in a public sector environment that has produced a U.S. Supreme Court Justice and a federal cabinet secretary among other distinguished alumni. It is also a chance to assist attorneys who represent the City of Cleveland—and its mayor, council members, and departments—in transactional work and civil and criminal litigation.

Clerking for the 82+ lawyer Department of Law offers broad exposure to the legal profession in an environment widely renowned for its challenge, excellence, creativity, integrity, and decency. The Department of Law’s Civil Division is divided into six sections: Litigation; Health, Environment, and Enterprise Funds; Public Safety; Legislation and Finance; Real Estate and Development; and Code Enforcement. The Department’s Criminal Division prosecutes misdemeanor crimes in Cleveland and reviews felony cases to determine whether they should be bound over to a grand jury for county prosecution.

The Law Department’s summer program consists of: challenging work in a broad range of practice areas; instruction in governmental law; feedback on legal research and writing; profession-skills workshops; volunteering for the community; and guest speakers. Although the 2019 dates have not been finalized, the summer program generally runs from late May/early June through the first week of August. Positions are also available during the academic year in a less structured program. Note that due to budget constraints, all available positions in 2019 will be unpaid—but the rewards will be great. In addition, you may receive academic credit from your law school, use federal work-study dollars, receive a public-interest scholarship, or seek a stipend from an organization such as a bar association. The Law Department will assist in securing any necessary approvals, but the individual law clerks are primarily responsibility for making such compensation arrangements.

To apply, submit by email (1) a cover letter stating whether you are seeking a full-time summer or part-time (during the academic year) position, whether you prefer either the civil or criminal division; (2) a detailed résumé, and (3) one writing sample 5-8 pages in length to: John Bacevice; Department of Law; City Hall; 601 Lakeside Ave, Rm. 106; Cleveland, OH 44114-1077. No phone calls, please. Your application must contain all requested materials in order to be considered for a position. The deadline for submission is February 1, 2019.

Visit our web site at www.cleveland-oh.gov
Submit email to: jbacevice@city.cleveland.oh.us
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Rev. 11/2018

AkronLawJobs No. 9767 Overview: The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland (Legal Aid) is looking for dedicated, hard-working, and public-interest minded students to work in Legal Aid’s four Northeast Ohio offices for our 2019 summer associate program. Legal Aid summer associates commit to working at least 11 weeks. Legal Aid is a non-profit law firm focused on the areas of consumer rights, disability, domestic violence, education, employment, family law, foreclosure, health, housing, immigration, public benefits, and tax.

Duties: Summer associates will be assigned to work in one practice area and will receive the opportunity to learn how to be excellent poverty law attorneys. Generally, summer associates will interview clients, draft court pleadings, research relevant legal issues, attend and assist with court hearings and trials, and gather and analyze evidence. They will observe oral arguments in a variety of courts, meeting afterward with the judges involved. Legal Aid also has a particular focus on community education, outreach, and advocacy for specific vulnerable populations. In addition to their substantive work, summer associates may be assigned to do legal work with one of these groups.

Qualifications: Legal Aid summer associate applicants should have completed their first or second year of law school prior to the summer of 2019. Special consideration is given to students with a demonstrated commitment to serving disadvantaged people and communities. If your resume does not reflect a commitment to public service due to personal financial constraints, please provide an explanation in your cover letter. Law students who speak Spanish and other languages are strongly encouraged to apply.

Funding: Due to limited financial resources, Legal Aid is unable to pay summer associates. However, traditionally summer associates are able to find outside funding, and applicants are encouraged to apply for summer funding through the following sources: 1) Summer grants/fellowships through your law school. 2) Equal Justice Works, Summer Corps Program: Awards $1,250 educational grants which can be applied to educational debt or future education costs. These are awarded on a first come, first served basis so be sure to apply the minute the application is available online at www.equaljusticeworks.org.

3) Equal Justice America: Visit www.equaljusticeamerica.org for 2019 award information and application details. 4) Work Study Funding: Some universities offer work-study funding for summer positions.

5) Please check with your law school’s financial aid office for options at your school. 6) These are just a few of the many funding possibilities. For more funding opportunities, visit the “Funding Sources” page under “Resource Central” at www.psjd.org. If you are considering applying for any funding sources, please indicate so in your cover letter.

Course Credit/Externship Credit: Legal Aid often supervises students seeking externship or other credit. Please indicate in your cover letter if you are working with a law school to receive course credit for this position. Contact Dean Alisa Benedict O’Brien at ab139@uakron.edu if you are interested in Externship Credit BEFORE applying

How to Apply: Forward your cover letter listing your top two (2) location preferences (Cleveland, Elyria, Jefferson, or Painesville), resume, writing sample, and a list of three (3) references with contact information to Jennifer Teeter, Executive Assistant listing “Summer Associate 2019” in the subject line of the e-mail.

Deadline:  January 20, 2019

AkronLawJobs No. 9756 Overview: Seeking a temporary law clerk to assist a civil and criminal attorney immediately. This temporary position will last until March 2019.

Hours: Flexible, between 5 and 15 hours per week.

Qualifications: 1L, 2L, 3L

Duties: Will review discovery, conduct research, and draft motions.

How to Apply:  E- mail your resume to Douglas King at dakingsr1@gmail AND Carly Snavely at carlysnavelyesq@icloud.com  (you need to apply to BOTH PERSONS).

Deadline:  December 20, 2018

AkronLawJobs No. 9755 Overview: Seeking a temporary law clerk to assist a criminal attorney IMMEDIATELY. The position will last until March 2019.

Hours: Flexible, between 5 and 15 hours per week.

Qualifications: 1L, 2L, 3L

Duties: Review discovery, OVI videos, conduct research and draft motions.

How to Apply:  E-mail your resume to pjsmithlaw@yahoo.com with subject “Law Clerk Application”

Deadline:  December 20, 2018

AkronLawJobs No. 9748 Overview: The legal clinic seeks a paid student to work in the Certificate of Qualification for Employment (CQE) clinic.

Hours: The student must commit to up to 5 hours per week.

Duties: The student would be responsible for recruiting and training volunteers for the clinic, organizing the monthly clinic, and providing administrative support for the clinic. The student also will be required to attend the monthly Saturday outreach clinics.

Qualifications: 2L or 3L. CQE experience preferred but not required.

How to Apply: If you are interested in the position, please e-mail a cover letter and resume to Professor Joann Sahl, jsahl1@uakron.edu.

Deadline: Wednesday, November 21, 2018