The American Bar Association’s (ABA) Commission on Disability Rights is pleased to partner with Prudential Financial, Inc. (Prudential) to provide a meaningful summer internship opportunity for a highly motivated, first-year law student with a disability. The Commission will select a law student with a disability to join the 2015 summer law intern program at Prudential’s New Jersey/New York offices. The 1L summer internship will run 10 weeks—from May 26 to August 7, 2015. Interns will be paid a stipend of approximately $10,000, which shall accrue and be paid on an hourly basis.

Internship Description
The summer internship program will provide interns the opportunity to work with attorneys who support the broad reach of Prudential’s businesses. Other features of the program include:

• Paid attendance at the 1L LCLD Scholars Summit in Dallas on May 28-30
• Participation in training programs presented by Prudential attorneys highlighting different areas of the business and the legal department
• Pairing with an attorney who will serve as a manager during the program and provide guidance on projects
• Pairing with a mentor who will serve as an additional advisor on resume review, interviewing, skill development, networking and other individual needs
• Practice interviews and presentations and shadow attorneys on various projects
• Opportunities to interview with selected local firms for potential 2L internships

Applicant Requirements
Applicants must:

• Be (or become) a member of the American Bar Association. Register here.
• Be a law student with a disability.
• Be enrolled at an ABA-accredited law school and have successfully completed the first year with a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent).
• Be scheduled for graduation in spring 2017 (full-time students) or spring 2018 (part-time students).

The ideal applicant will have financial or business-related experience or interest. Interns not local to New Jersey/New York will be responsible for their own housing and transportation to and from Prudential’s offices. Some assignments may be in offices not readily accessible by mass transportation.

How to Apply
To apply, submit your cover letter, resume, list of three references, and copy of your transcript to: 

Amy Allbright at ; (T) ; (F) 

Please write “Prudential Internship” in the subject line of all correspondence. All materials must be received by 5:00 p.m. EST on February 6, 2015. Finalists will be selected and notified on or before March 9, 2015.

 
Prudential and its affiliates are Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employers and are committed to diversity in our workforce.

Source: http://www.americanbar.org/groups/disabilityrights/resources/lawstudents/aba_prudential_internship.html

2015 AAPD Washington DC Summer Internship Program For Students with Disabilities

If you will be living in the Washington, DC area during the 2015 summer and you’re a college student, graduate student, law student, or recent graduate (within one year), the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)’s Summer Internship Program provides the opportunity to gain hands-on professional experience to help advance your career goals. Interns will receive a stipend, mentor matching, and additional resources during the summer. Candidates interested in careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and veterans with disabilities are highly encouraged to apply.

To Apply

• STEP 1: Complete the 2015 AAPD Summer Internship Program Application: PDF | WORD
  
• STEP 2: Gather supporting documents and complete essays
  
• STEP 3: Submit all documents via email to by 5pm EST on Friday, February 6th
  

Eligibility

• Any college student (degree and non-degree seeking), graduate student, law student, recent graduate within a year and veteran who self-identifies as an individual with any type of disability is invited to apply.  You will not be required to disclose your specific disability; however, your application for this program will signify that you consider yourself a person with a disability. 
  
• PLEASE NOTE:  This is a program run specifically for students with disabilities by the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the nation’s largest cross-disability membership organization.  Those selected for this program will be involved in various disability-focused activities and associated with AAPD and fellow interns with all types of disabilities throughout the program. 

• Applicants chosen for the AAPD Washington DC Summer Internship Program release all information contained in their application for use on the AAPD website and in public press releases, including releases to the program funders and potential employers.
  

About 
Since 2002, the AAPD Summer Internship Program has made the Washington, DC internship experience available to motivated people with disabilities, developing a new generation of leaders and offering host employers access to a talented, diverse workforce. Each summer, AAPD places students and recent graduates with all types of disabilities in paid 10-week summer internships in Congressional offices, federal agencies, nonprofit and for-profit organizations. 

At the beginning of the summer, interns participate in a 1-week orientation session to learn about AAPD as well as the disability rights movement, meet the other interns, and participate in a variety of engaging workshops and events. Interns are matched with a mentor who is a professional or advocate within the disability community. As part of the AAPD network, interns also receive opportunities to attend events on Capitol Hill, conferences, community events, happy hours, and more. 

AAPD accepts all majors and career interests. In the past, AAPD Summer Internship Program placement sites have included:

Administration for Community Living
American Institutes for Research
Association of University Centers on Disabilities
Easter Seals
First Focus
HSC Foundation
Japanese American Citizens League
JBS International
National Council on Aging
National Council on Independent Living
National Disability Rights Network
Office of Personnel Management
United Cerebal Palsy
United States Access Board
United States Agency for International Development
United States Department of Agriculture
United States Department of Education 
United States Department of Labor
United States House of Representatives
United States Senate
Walmart

What Happens Next

• Completed applications received by AAPD before 5:00 PM EST, Friday, February 6, 2015, will be collected and reviewed by the internship review team
• Finalists will be contacted for formal interviews
• Interns will be selected for the program and notified by mid-to-late February

Applications must be received via email at   by Friday, February 6, 2015 at 5:00pm EST.

Source: http://www.aapd.com/what-we-do/employment/internship-program/

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Pacific Southwest (Region 9), Office of Regional Counsel, is pleased to announce its 2015 Honors Attorney Fellowship. This fellowship is for up to a 2-year term, and the fellow is expected to commit to the full term. The deadline to apply for the 2015 Fellowship is January 30, 2015. The Region 9 ORC anticipates that the Fellowship will begin in July/August 2015.

The EPA Honors Attorney Fellowship is designed for a recent law school graduate who is a licensed attorney with excellent academic credentials and a strong interest in a career in environmental law or the public sector (see more detailed criteria below). It provides an opportunity for entry-level attorneys to practice law in a leading governmental environmental organization, and to receive extensive training in and exposure to environmental law and policy work in the public sector. The Region offers new attorneys significant responsibility, the opportunity to handle a complex caseload that includes enforcement and counseling work, and extensive training and mentoring from dedicated colleagues with recognized expertise. The Region offers a diverse and supportive work environment. 

The Office of Regional Counsel, Pacific Southwest Region 
The Office of Regional Counsel (ORC) employs approximately 65 attorneys whose work spans environmental law issues in the geographic region of California, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii, Pacific Islands, and over 140 Tribal Nations. ORC attorneys provide legal support for both enforcement and counseling matters under the federal statutes administered by EPA to the Region, one of ten EPA regional offices. They also work collaboratively with state, tribal, and local governments to implement these national environmental laws. 

Regarding enforcement, attorneys are responsible for preparing administrative, judicial and criminal cases against violators of environmental laws. These cases involve developing and using technical and legal strategies for negotiation and litigation purposes. The primary statutes enforced by the EPA are the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, Toxic Substances Control Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (Superfund) and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. For cases brought in federal court, attorneys work with the Department of Justice, but solely represent the Agency in administrative proceedings. 

In addition to preparing enforcement actions, ORC attorneys are also responsible for counseling the Regional Administrator and Program Division Directors on the interpretation of environmental laws, regulations and policies in such matters as permitting or other agency decisions. The Region also has innovative initiatives addressing environmental justice, brownfields redevelopment, and urban and rural environmental issues.

Eligibility 
Recent law school graduates (e.g., 2012, 2013, and 2014) who are licensed attorneys with active bar memberships (any State, U.S. territory, Puerto Rico or the District of Columbia) are eligible to apply. 2014 law school graduates or applicants who are not bar members are NOT eligible for this program. In addition, the candidate’s suitability for employment must be confirmed by a background investigation.
 
Veterans and individuals with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply. If you qualify for veterans preference and want the Agency to consider that preference as a positive factor in reviewing your application, you must include in your application appropriate documentation such as DD214(copy 4), your VA letter, or Standard Form-15 (disabled veteran).

Salary 
The salary will be at the GS-11 level (currently starting at $68,643). Full benefits are also provided. Relocation expenses are not authorized. This position is in the Excepted Service (and not in Competitive Service) and does not confer competitive status.

Application Process 
Please submit the following no later than January 30, 2015: 

• Cover letter explaining the applicant's interest in the Fellowship. 
  
• Resume, including significant accomplishments, work experience, law school class rank, contact telephone numbers, and e-mail address. 
  
• Transcript of law school grades and documentation of graduation from an ABA accredited law school. 
  
• Name, address and telephone numbers of 3 references, including a current or former employer and a law school professor or advisor. 
  
• Proof of active bar membership and license to practice law in any State, U.S. Territory, Puerto Rico or the District of Columbia. 
  
• Veterans Preference supporting documents, if applicable. 
  

All applications should be submitted by email to  and should include "2015 Fellowship Application" in the subject line of the message. Documents may be attached in Word or PDF formats. Selected applicants will be invited for telephonic interview(s). A writing sample will be required of each selected candidate prior to the interview.

Questions  
For any questions, please send an email to with “Inquiry” in the subject line of the email. For other information about the EPA Pacific Southwest regional office, please visit the Region's website at www.epa.gov/region9 (for further information about the ORC, click on “Pacific Southwest Programs and Resources” then “Legal”). 

Please note that other EPA legal offices may have their own honors attorney fellowship programs which are administered separately. The Region 9 website provides links to those programs. 

EPA provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the Agency. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. 

__________________________________________

EPA is an equal opportunity employer. Selection for this position will be based solely on merit without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender, national origin, political affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, marital or family status or other differences.

The summer 2015 Youth in International Development and Foreign Affairs Internship Program is open for applications until February 4, 2015 at 5pm EST.

The United States International Council on Disabilities (USICD) launched its internship program in 2013. USICD's internship program focuses on youth with disabilities from across the U.S. who are interested in careers in international development or foreign affairs.

ABOUT THE INTERNSHIP
The summer 2015 internship program will bring a group of talented graduate students, recent graduates, and rising juniors and seniors with disabilities to Washington, DC, for nine weeks. This will include a one-week training and orientation program, followed by an eight-week internship at a major international development agency in the Washington, DC area to learn more about foreign aid and development. Throughout the program, interns will be able to participate in trainings and workshops on career development topics, as well as attend hearings in Congressional Foreign Relations Committees and attend meetings at the State Department & other agencies. Each intern in the summer Youth in International Development and Foreign Affairs program is usually placed at a different host organization for their internship.

USICD will cover the cost of fully-accessible housing during the program, reimburse travel expenses to and from DC, and provide a limited stipend. It is anticipated that the program will run from May 24 to July 25, 2015. These dates may be subject to change. 

QUALIFICATIONS
1.    You must be an American citizen.
2.    You must either be a graduate student or a rising junior or senior in college or a recent             
       graduate. "Recent graduates" for the summer 2015 program need to have graduated between 
       spring 2014 and spring 2015.
3.    You must be a person with a disability.
4.    You must meet one of the following age criteria:

• Any candidate who meets the other eligibility criteria above is eligible up to age 30 (i.e., born on or after May 24, 1984). 
  
• U.S. veterans who meet the other eligibility criteria remain eligible up to age 35 (i.e., born on or after May 24, 1979). 
  
• USICD may also consider granting other exceptions to the 30-year age limit in extraordinary circumstances on a case by case basis for other candidates up to age 35.  If you feel that you have had extraordinary circumstances causing significant and unusual disruption to your education, training, or early career, please contact Andrea Shettle at to explain your circumstances as soon as feasible before applying.  USICD staff will discuss your circumstances internally and grant a decision within 15 business days (three weeks) on whether you may be eligible to apply under this exception.  Being granted permission to apply does not guarantee that you will be selected to enter the program. FOR EXAMPLE, if you are a war refugee whose education was disrupted by the war in your country, then this might qualify you for an exception to the age limit, provided that you still meet the other eligibility criteria. 
  

HOW TO APPLY
Application is a two-step process:

• First, click here to complete the application form!
  
• Next, please send your resume or c.v. to in file attachment.

The application deadline for USICD's summer 2015 internship program is February 4, 2015 at 5pm EST. To learn more about the Youth in International Development and Foreign Affairs internship program, please visit http://usicd.org/template/page.cfm?id=257. You can also download a printable handout on the internship program here. 

QUESTIONS?
If you have any questions, please review the FAQ for the internship program to see if your question is addressed there.  If you still have questions about the program, the application process, or the eligibility criteria, please call 202-347-0102 or email .

ABOUT USICD
In addition to coordinating the internship program, USICD leads the campaign for U.S. ratification of the "Disability Treaty"--the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). The CRPD is an international agreement among countries to uphold the human rights of 1 billion people with disabilities globally. Learn the basics about the CRPD, then use the Action Center at http://disabilitytreaty.org to ask your Senators to ratify the CRPD.

The Arc of the United States is seeking law student interns to work at their Washington, DC office for Summer 2015. Applications for academic internships for the Spring 2015 semester are also welcome. The Arc is the nation's leading advocate for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families and the premier provider of the supports and services these individuals need. The Arc has a long history of protecting the civil rights of the I/DD and broader disability community through advocacy, legislation, policy, and litigation on matters such as civil rights, community integration, housing, health care, long term supports and services, education, and employment.

About the Internship
The intern would work on a wide variety of projects concerning national disability rights law and policy. These could include work with The Arc’s National Center for Criminal Justice and Disability, civil rights impact litigation, and policy and legislative work at both the state and federal levels. The intern would have a variety of responsibilities including legal research and writing, interviewing clients, collecting data, connecting with state and local chapters of The Arc throughout the country, drafting research memoranda, legal documents, and policy position papers, and attending relevant meetings in the DC area. There would also be room for the intern to participate in other programming at The Arc depending on interest, such as the Center for Future Planning, Autism Now, and the National Council of Self Advocates.

Application Process
All qualified law students are encouraged to apply for the internship, including minorities, women, veterans, and individuals with disabilities. 

To apply, please submit the following materials:

• cover letter
• resume
• writing sample
• list of three references 

Application materials should be sent to Shira Wakschlag, Staff Attorney and Special Assistant to the CEO, at . Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. Applicants are also encouraged to seek funding from their law schools for these positions. 

Source: http://www.thearc.org/get-involved/job-board?postid14610=424&jbs14610=5

Stoel Rives LLP is proud to offer First-Year Law Student Diversity Fellowships in their Portland, Salt Lake City and Seattle offices. Recipients will each be awarded a salaried summer associate position after their first year of law school and a $7,500 tuition scholarship for the following academic year.

To Stoel Rives, diversity means differing life experiences, cultures and backgrounds, as well as gender, race, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, marital status, and age.

To learn more about Stoel Rives’ business law practice, their people and their offices in seven states and the District of Columbia, please visit www.stoel.com. 

CRITERIA

• Good standing as a first-year law student at an ABA accredited law school. Students in four-year evening programs should not apply until after their second year of law school. 
• Demonstrate academic excellence and leadership ability, personal and professional accomplishments, commitment to community service and meaningful contribution to the diversity of the legal community. 
• Commitment to living in Portland, Salt Lake City or Seattle following law school graduation and expressed interest in our practice areas.

APPLICATION MATERIALS
Please be prepared to attach these documents when you apply online.

• One-page personal statement addressing the selection criteria and providing any additional relevant information. (No additional cover letter is needed.) 
• Current résumé with three professional references.
• Undergraduate transcript(s). Unofficial copies are acceptable. 
• Law school transcript. If grades have not been posted at the time you apply, please supplement your application when they become available by emailing it to the appropriate office(s). 
• A legal writing sample that has not been edited by others (maximum of 10 pages).

APPLICATION PROCEDURES
To submit an online application to each office where you wish to be considered use the appropriate links below. (If applying to more than one office, please note this in your personal statement.) Applications will be accepted through January 14, 2015.

Fellowship Flyer: 

Source: http://www.stoel.com/diversity.pdf

Banner & Witcoff is proud to offer the Donald W. Banner Diversity Scholarship for law students. This scholarship is part of Banner & Witcoff’s commitment to fostering the development of intellectual property lawyers from diverse backgrounds. 

Eligibility
Law students who meet the selection criteria and have entered into a JD program at an ABA-accredited law school in the United States are eligible to apply for the scholarship. Applicants may not be a current or past employee of Banner & Witcoff, or directly related to a current employee of Banner & Witcoff.

Selection Criteria
Scholarship recipients will be selected by the Donald W. Banner Diversity Scholarship review board based on the following criteria:

• Academic merit (undergraduate, graduate and law school)
  
• Commitment to the pursuit of a career in IP law
  
• Member of a historically under represented group in IP law (including race,
  gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and disability)
  
• Written communication skills
  
• Oral communication skills determined through an interview of the law student
  
• Leadership qualities and community involvement 

Financial Award
Recipients of the Donald W. Banner Diversity Scholarship will receive $5,000 payable for the Fall semester of their second or third year of law school.

Application Process
Applications will be accepted through January 12, 2015. Awards will be announced in May 2015.

Applicants will submit the following documents for consideration:

• Completed Donald W. Banner Diversity Scholarship application form
  
• Resume
  
• Academic transcripts (law school, undergraduate/graduate school)
  
• Writing sample (5-10 pages) (a legal writing sample is requested, if available)
  
• Contact information for three references
  
• One page statement describing how diversity has impacted the candidate

2015 Scholarship Application  
The application materials for the 2015 Donald W. Banner Diversity Scholarship for law students are now available for download here.  Completed application materials should be submitted no later than January 12, 2015 to:

Donald W. Banner Diversity Scholarship 
c/o Christopher Hummel 
Banner & Witcoff, Ltd. 
1100 13th Street, N.W., Suite 1200 
Washington, DC 20005

For more information, please visit the Scholarship FAQs page or contact Chris Hummel at 
.

Perkins Coie LLP is committed to the growth and development of legal communities that more accurately reflect the rich diversity of our communities at large.  Their diversity fellowships provide students with a $7,500 academic scholarship and a paid position as a 2015 summer associate in one of the following Perkins Coie offices: Chicago, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Portland, San Francisco, Seattle or Washington, D.C.

Perkins Coie's definition of diversity is broad, and past finalists and recipients have included members of racial, ethnic, disabled and sexual orientation minority groups. While applicants need not disclose their financial circumstances, a demonstrated need for financial assistance may be taken into consideration.    

Criteria 
The 2015 Perkins Coie 1L Diversity Student Fellows will be selected on the basis of the following criteria:

• Candidates must be a first-year law student in good standing pursuing the degree of Juris Doctor at an ABA accredited law school.
• Candidates must have a strong academic record, interest and capacity that demonstrate great promise for a successful career during the remainder of law school and in the legal profession.
• Candidates must meaningfully contribute to the diversity of the law school student body and, upon entering the legal profession, the legal community.  

Application Deadline 
January 9, 2015

Application Process 
To be considered, please submit the following through Perkins Coie's web portal:

• A current resume;
• Three references (please provide name, email and phone);
• Undergraduate and, if available, law school transcripts (unofficial versions are acceptable);
• A legal writing sample (10-page maximum); and
• A one-page, single-spaced, personal statement. Your personal statement should go beyond your resume to tell your unique personal history.  Please do not submit a cover letter.  In-office interviews will be granted to finalists before fellowships are awarded.  

*You are limited to applying to one office.

To apply or to find additional information, please visit http://www.perkinscoie.com/en/about-us/careers/summer-program/1l-opportunities.html#diversity.

Questions
For questions, please contact Shelley Levine at .

Diversity Fellowship Flyer (.doc):

Diversity Fellowship Flyer (.pdf)

The Thomas Jefferson School of Law presents

First Annual Jameson Crane III Disability and the Law 
Writing Competition

PURPOSE
The Crane Writing Competition is designed to encourage outstanding student scholarship at the intersection of law and medicine or law and the social sciences that promotes an understanding, furthers the development of legal rights and protections, and improves the lives of those with disabilities.

ELIGIBILITY
The Crane Writing Competition is open to currently enrolled law students (J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D.), medical students, and doctoral candidates in related fields who attend an accredited graduate program of study in the United States.

TOPIC
Submitted papers may be on any topic relating to disability law including, legal issues arising with respect to employment, government services and programs, public accommodations, education, higher education, housing, and health care.

JUDGING
Submissions will be judged anonymously by an independent panel of experts. Judging will be on the basis of the following criteria:

1. Thesis originality
   
2. Topic complexity
3. Research quality
4. Organization and analysis
5. Writing quality 

PRIZES

1. The winner of the competition will receive a $1,500 cash prize and the Thomas Jefferson Law Review (TJLR) will consider the paper for publication under the TJLR’s editorial standards.
2. Two second place winners will each receive a $1,000 cash prize.

Preference for these additional winners will be given to submissions from disciplines not represented by the grand prize winner. By submitting a paper to this competition, the author grants Thomas Jefferson School of Law the right to edit, as necessary, and publish that paper in the TJLR.

RULES
The written submission shall be an original work of a single author not previously published or under consideration for publication. The work must be produced in conjunction with course work toward a degree or under the supervision of a faculty member at the student’s home institution.

FORMAT
Submissions should be appropriate for law review publication. Citations should conform to the citation style most frequently used by the student’s discipline. For example, law student manuscripts should employ the current edition of The Blue Book: A Uniform System of Citation. All submissions should be in Microsoft Word, double-spaced, Times New Roman 12-point font on 8 1/2 by 11 inch paper. Footnotes should be single-spaced. One inch margins are required. Pages should be numbered. A cover page must be provided that includes: author name; contact information; school; and the academic degree currently pursued by the student. Submissions must not exceed 35 pages in length, including citations, any figures or tables, and the cover page. The paper title should appear on the first full page of text. Identifying information, including student name, should not appear on any page other than the cover page.

DEADLINES
All submissions must be submitted electronically to . All entries must be received by midnight, Pacific Standard Time, January, 15, 2015. Winning submissions will be announced by April 15, 2015.

CONTACT
Questions should be directed to Professor Susan Bisom-Rapp: 

ABOUT
Jameson Crane III hails from Columbus, Ohio, and currently resides in San Diego, California. He earned his undergraduate degrees from Gallaudet University located in Washington, D.C., where he graduated cum laude with a double major in government and history. After graduation, Jameson worked as a recruiter for Gallaudet in the university’s admissions department. In order to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a lawyer, Jameson moved to San Diego where he earned his juris doctorate degree from Thomas Jefferson School of Law. Currently, he serves on several boards, including San Diego’s Deaf Community Services Board, and remains actively involved with various other organizations. Jameson is the founder of an independently owned private equity capital group, which owns interests in several start-up businesses. Ultimately, Jameson’s dream is to provide knowledge and resources to assist with the start-up and growth of other independently owned businesses.

Crane Writing Competition Flyer (.docx):

Crane Writing Competition Flyer (.pdf)

Source: http://www.tjsl.edu/cranewritingcompetition