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2014-2015 Fellowship Application

APPLICATION: PACE COMMUNITY LAW PRACTICE
2014 FELLOWSHIP

FELLOWSHIP DESCRIPTION:  The Pace Community Law Practice (PCLP) opened in fall 2012, and is dedicated to providing affordable representation to low- and moderate-income community residents.  Its staff consists of recent Pace Law graduates, who serve as PCLP Fellows for a one-year term.  The PCLP provides Fellows with supervision and mentoring by seasoned attorneys, as well as guidance in creating solo practices geared toward representing low- and moderate-income clients.  The PCLP’s primary areas of legal practice are immigration law and administrative proceedings.

Fellows are expected to manage a full docket of cases, to conduct legal consultations in off-site locations, conduct community outreach and public education events, and to participate in professional and promotional events for the PCLP and Pace Law School.  The PCLP is a high volume practice with a substantial docket of complex litigation matters.  Therefore, Fellows should expect to work evenings and weekends regularly, and whenever necessary to meet legal and other professional deadlines.  Fellows attend a five-day orientation prior to their start date, as well as intensive training in immigration law and procedure. 

ELIGIBILITY:  To apply for this position, you must:

  • have received, or be slated to receive, a Juris Doctor degree from Pace Law School in 2014;
  • be prepared to make a full-time commitment throughout the period of appointment;
  • plan to sit for the NY State Bar Examination in July 2014, unless you already did so in February, 2014.

In addition, it is strongly encouraged that applicants register to take the New Jersey Bar Examination in July 2014.  The significantly faster admissions process in New Jersey enables Fellows to begin practicing in court earlier than those waiting to be admitted in New York.  Registration at the lowest rates ends March 31.

APPLICATION DUE:  On or before April 11, 12:30 pm

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

You must submit:

  • Two printed copies of the application contents to the PCLP, 33 Crane Avenue, White Plains, NY 10603, addressed to Jennifer Friedman C/O Nova Lucero, Executive Director, PCLP; and
  • One email copy (PDF or Word format) of the application contents to pclp@law.pace.edu.  

APPLICATION CONTENTS:         

  1. A one- to two-page résumé demonstrating your qualifications for this practice.  This may include relevant courses you have taken at Pace Law School or other institutions.  You should highlight any advocacy, client, and/or business/management experience.  Please also state your level of proficiency in speaking, reading and/or writing any language other than English.
  2. At least two letters of recommendation. One must be from a Pace Law School professor and one from a person with whom you had work (paid or unpaid) experience.  You may submit up to two additional letters of recommendation in your discretion.  Letters may be included with your application materials OR sent directly by the recommender to Nova Lucero at 33 Crane Avenue or pclp@law.pace.edu.  Please note that applications will not be considered complete if the letters of recommendation are not submitted by the deadline.
  3. One legal writing sample of 5-10 pages.  This may be an excerpt of a longer piece.
  4. One essay explaining why you are applying for this position.  This essay should be no more than four pages, double-spaced.  It should address how you have demonstrated, through educational, work or life experiences and choices, the characteristics and qualifications necessary for this type of independent public interest work, which  include, but are not limited, to the following:
    • ability to work both independently and collaboratively
    • ability to learn from your experience and to be reflective
    • empathy
    • adaptability, versatility and flexibility
    • ability to accept the uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity inherent in legal practice
    • maturity
    • creativity, within the legal context
    • resiliency
    • capacity to provide and use constructive criticism
    • commitment to working with disenfranchised or marginalized clients and/or communities
    • specific legal skills, such as interviewing, drafting successful arguments, and oral advocacy
    • business management skills
  5. A one-paragraph description of a community you would like to serve through the PCLP and how you plan to reach out to develop a client base in that community.