Job Opportunities

 

FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITY

Deadline: July 30, 2010                                                                                        
Location: Washington, D.C.

 PROGRAM:

 The Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth (CFSY) in Washington, D.C. seeks to host a recent law school graduate or recent judicial law clerk for a public interest law fellowship, such as Equal Justice Works and Soros Justice fellowships.  This position would begin in the Fall of 2011 and be contingent on the applicant and CFSY receiving the necessary fellowship funding in the Fall/Winter 2010 funding cycle.

 CFSY coordinates and develops strategies in partnership with organizations and individuals around the country working to end juvenile life without parole.  From our offices in Washington, D.C., we work collaboratively with state-based campaigns, national and international advocates, litigators and organizers.  CFSY provides strategic support to its partners in order to influence lawmakers and court outcomes to abolish juvenile life without parole and establish fair sentencing for youth. 

 POSITION:

 CFSY is interested in hosting a Fellow to advance its work to end the sentencing of youth to life without parole.  The Fellow will work with CFSY and its national Advisory Committee to identify and capture opportunities created by the United States Supreme Court’s historic decision in Graham v. Florida, which declared unconstitutional the sentencing of youth to life without parole for non-homicide offenses.  The Fellow will advance strategic post-conviction representation, provide technical assistance to practitioners, and work closely with CFSY’s state-based reform campaigns on behalf of those who are directly and indirectly impacted by Graham.  The Fellow will also conduct policy analysis and assist with policy drafting using a human rights framework and a domestic policy approach to ensure that youth are receiving just treatment and sentencing under new reforms. 

 CFSY and its Advisory Committee of juvenile justice experts and advocates will work closely with the selected fellowship candidate to fully develop the fellowship proposal.

 EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS: 

  • J.D.
  • Knowledge of criminal appellate procedure and post-conviction advocacy
  • Knowledge of international human rights law and framework and its application within the United States
  • Excellent legal research and writing skills
  • Experience with post-conviction legal research, writing, and advocacy
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills
  • Experience with complex legal analytical work
  • Self motivated with the ability to work independently, and handle multiple tasks
  • Commitment to juvenile justice, human rights, and social justice

 HOW TO APPLY:

Interested individuals should send a letter of interest, resume, official or unofficial transcript, names and contact information for two legal references, and a legal writing sample (not more than 10 pages) via email to mberrios@fairsentencingofyouth.org.  Please write “CFSY Legal Fellowship Application” in the subject line of your email. 

 Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with those submitted by July 30, 2010 having priority.  Proposals to most funders of public interest law fellowships are due in mid-late September.  CFSY will interview applicants on a rolling basis in order to select fellowship candidates in time to prepare proposals by the applicable deadlines.  

The CFSY is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate in its hiring practices and, in order to build the strongest possible workforce, actively seeks a diverse applicant pool.

 

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Advocacy Intern

Location:     Washington, DC (metro accessible)

Stipend:     Unpaid Internship

Dates of Position:     Fall Semester Internship, start in August/September

Time Commitment:     3 month minimum, 16-20 hours weekly

Application Deadline:     August 6, 2010

BACKGROUND: The Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth (CFSY) works to end the practice of sentencing juveniles to life without the possibility of parole (JLWOP) in the United States. The Campaign works with advocates across the United States and in Washington, D.C. that use public education, advocacy, and litigation as strategies to pursue this goal.  We work with active state campaigns and are advised by a committee of experts in the field.

SUMMARY OF POSITION: The Advocacy Intern will become familiar with national and state efforts to end juvenile life without parole sentencing.  The Intern will assist the CFSY staff by undertaking research projects of varied materials and complexities, attending local juvenile justice meetings, assisting with communications related activities, and performing program support and administrative tasks. College credit eligibility and letters of recommendation provided upon successful completion of the internship.

Duties: 

  • Perform administrative tasks such as filing, data entry, working within Microsoft Word, Excel, Access and Outlook.
  • Research, collect and compile data on relevant legislation and individuals serving juvenile life without parole around the country.
  • Respond to mail from individuals in prison.
  • Represent the Campaign at various juvenile and criminal justice meetings in the DC area.
  • Participate in team meetings and state advocacy calls.
  • Assist with the collection and distribution of relevant news stories.
  • Assist in the development of new media strategy.
  • Assist in the maintenance of organization’s social networking sites.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

 

Qualifications:

  • Commitment to criminal and juvenile justice issues, particularly reform to harsh juvenile sentencing practices in the United States, racial discrimination in juvenile justice, and /or human rights in the United States.
  • Some experience working with Microsoft Office applications.
  • Well developed organization skills with attention to detail.
  • Mature and reliable.
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Willingness to take direction and work as a team – friendly and courteous, willing to work as part of the larger community efforts to end juvenile life without parole.
  • Excellent writing abilities.
  • Prefer upperclass standing, graduate students welcome to apply.

 

HOW TO APPLY: (no phone calls please) Email a letter of interest and your resume no later than August 6th to mberrios@fairsentencingofyouth.org.  Use “Advocacy Intern” as the subject of your email.  Only complete applications will be reviewed.  

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The CFSY is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate in its hiring practices and, in order to build the strongest possible workforce, actively seeks a diverse applicant pool.