Akron Law Announcements

The legal clinic seeks volunteers for the Certificate of Qualification for
Employment (CQE) clinic. The clinic assists eligible clients remotely with
completing the CQE application. To participate in the opportunity, you must
attend training. The next training will be on May 27, from
6-7:30pm pm online.  Once trained law students can work on CQEs on their own
time with clients to earn pro bono of limited means hours. The training
will also count for those hours. If you have any questions or want to sign
up for the training please contact Kellie Lockemer at
kml134@uakron.edu Thank you! 

AkronLawJobs No. 12656: MI AECRES is a new nonprofit education law firm providing free or low-cost advocacy and legal representation to children ages 0-26 in West Michigan for special education and school disciplinary matters. AECRES is an acronym for Advocating for Every Child’s Right to Educational Success. Our mission is to ensure all children in West Michigan receive the quality education they need to thrive. You can learn more by visiting our website at www.miaecres.org.
Position Overview
• Law students seeking practical hands-on experience with opportunity for client contact would benefit from an internship or externship with our program. We concentrate our practice around helping students and families understand, exercise, and protect their education rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and related federal and state education and civil rights laws.
• Students ranging from rising 1Ls through 3Ls have participated in our work through the supervising attorney’s private practice and found it extremely rewarding.
• We ask for a consistent part-time commitment of at least 8 – 10 hours a week for the course of the experience.
• Opportunities are available for winter, spring, summer, and fall. Work is 100%
remote at this time due to both COVID-19 and the geographic scope of the services provided, but in-person work opportunities may be available in Kalamazoo, MI in the future.

 Responsibilities
• Legal research of special education and student disciplinary issues
• Becoming familiar with education and civil rights statutes, administrative rules,
and case law, including but not limited to, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Michigan Administrative Rules of Special Education (MARSE), Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District, 580 U.S. , 137 S. Ct. 988 (2017) (Endrew F.), and Goss v. Lopez, 419 U.S. 565 (1975).
• Drafting school communications on behalf of or in conjunction with parents.
• Reviewing student records and identifying potential legal violations.
• Reviewing draft IEP’s with parents and identifying areas of concern to be addressed at IEP meetings (or 504 plans/meetings).
• Attending Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan meetings on behalf of student. 
• Weekly client consultations to review and monitor IEP/504 Plan implementation and address immediate client concerns.
• Attending Manifestation Determination Review Hearings on behalf of student.
• Representing students at expulsion hearings, including but not limited to,
reviewing documents, drafting and presenting opening and closing statements, presenting discovery, and questioning witnesses.
• Drafting state complaints on behalf of student.
• Drafting due process complaints on behalf of students.
• Assisting supervising attorney with preparing for Due Process Hearings.
• Other assignments as directed. 

Knowledge, Abilities and Skills
• Excellent legal, organizational, written and oral communication skills
• Ability to relate comfortably to individuals of different racial/ethnic, economic and cultural backgrounds
• Ability to multi-task and complete projects in a timely matter under pressure
• Knowledge of communities to be served
• Knowledge of and demonstrated commitment to civil rights and social justice

 Qualifications
• Rising 1L-3L
• Strong research and writing skills
• Outstanding time management and organization skills
• Effective mediation and negotiation skills
• Interest in education or civil rights law

 Salary
Internships are volunteer positions. We will accommodate any requirements necessary for securing school credit to support externships.
Application
Interested applicants should email a resume, references, and cover letter to: jbabinski@miaecres.org 
MI AECRES is an equal opportunity employer committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Deadline: ASAP

Fink Family Scholarship
for a Pharmacist in Law School
The American Society for Pharmacy Law (“ASPL”) is seeking applicants for the 2021 Fink Family Scholarship.  The purpose of the Scholarship is to support a pharmacist who: (1) is attending law school; (2) demonstrates academic, professional, or service-related achievement; and (3) is most likely to use a law degree to further such achievement and to contribute to the benefit of society.

The $5,000 scholarship is a one-time, non-renewable award and will be administered by ASPL.  The scholarship award will be payable to the institution where the student is enrolled.  The recipient will also receive a one year complimentary student membership in ASPL.

The Fink Family Scholarship was established by Joseph L. Fink III and his family in 2014.

Eligibility The applicant must be a graduate of an ACPE-accredited entry level pharmacy degree program in the U.S. and licensed as a pharmacist in a U.S. jurisdiction. The applicant must be enrolled in an ABA-accredited law school to pursue the JD degree. The applicant must be a U.S. Citizen/Permanent U.S. Resident who successfully completed the first year and the first semester of the second year of law school. If chosen as a recipient of the Scholarship, the individual must be enrolled in the third year of law school as a condition for the funds to be paid to the law school.

Selection Criteria
The selection process includes review of: Academic transcripts from pharmacy and law school. LSAT scores. A legal writing sample of the applicant’s choice. Letter of reference from a law school professor. A brief essay (maximum two, double-spaced pages) describing how the applicant intends to apply the dual background and preparation being pursued. ASPL may require additional information as part of the application process as it deems necessary to select a recipient who best meets the purposes of the Scholarship. Preference is given to students who have made the commitment to full-time study by being enrolled on a full-time basis in a “day” program requiring three years for completion of the degree. Those in “evening” programs requiring four years for completion may apply but will not enjoy the same preference. Financial need is not a criterion.

Deadline for submission of an application is May 31, 2021. The recipient of the Scholarship will be notified no later than July 15, 2021.
All required information is to be submitted to:
American Society for Pharmacy Law
Education and Scholarship Committee
PO Box 7317
Springfield, IL 62791
Or by email to administration@aspl.org
 

American Society for Pharmacy Law | PO Box 7317 | Springfield, IL 62791