The Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA) seeks applicants to sponsor for Skadden, Equal Justice Works, Berkeley Law Foundation, and other post-graduate legal fellowships to begin in the fall of 2009. 

Filing deadlines for Fall 2009 fellowships:

NLADA Consumer 8/08

Equal Justice Works 9/16/08

Skadden 10/08

UC Hastings Ralph Abascal 11/3/08

Yale Liman Fellowship 11/08

Berkeley Law Foundation 3/09

USC Law School Irmas Fellowship 3/09

Loyola Public Interest 5/3/09

(Deadlines should be verified with the source; LAFLA does not guarantee accuracy.)

Projects/Areas

CED

The unit provides legal assistance with nonprofit start-up issues such as incorporation and tax exemption, and also offers training and technical assistance to help these community-based groups become stronger, better managed organizations. We also assist in developing, training, and empowering community-based organizations and low-income individuals to become actively involved in the revitalization process.

West Office

Project involving domestic violence and consumer issues; an emphasis with limited English proficiency communities.

Central Office

A project involving a Housing Court model for southern California area to ensure tenants receive a fair trial when being evicted.

Employment

The unit promotes the right of working people to a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s labor, free from discrimination and harassment, and assists low wage earners with a range of work place issues including:

• Payment of wages
• Mealtime and rest breaks
• Access to benefits
• Conditions of health and safety.

Consumer (East Office)

A project that would expand capacity for consumer rights advocacy in the area of trade school and student loan abuses.

 

Background

LAFLA is the front-line law firm for the poor in Los Angeles and one of the largest legal services provider in the nation, with more than sixty lawyers and 160 total staff working in six community offices and seven courthouse-based clinics.   LAFLA is a Legal Services Corporation recipient.

LAFLA’s priorities are:

• Supporting families

• Preserving the home

• Promoting safety, stability and health

 

In 2006, LAFLA provided direct legal assistance to more than 13,200 low-income clients and aided over 32,000 more through referrals, distribution of brochures and self-help materials, and community outreach and education.  We practice family law, immigration, government benefits, employment, consumer, housing, eviction defense, and Community Economic Development.

LAFLA has had six two-year fellows since 2002.  The five who completed their fellowships were all offered permanent employment and accepted.  The sixth relocated to the east coast following the first year of her fellowship.

LAFLA will host both a Skadden Fellow and an Equal Justice Works Fellow.

 

Fellowship Proposals:

LAFLA welcomes proposals from law students who will have graduated law school by June 2009 to begin fellowships in the fall of 2009.  We will consider any proposal from well-qualified applicants in any of our practice areas.  We look favorably on proposals with a strong pro bono component. 

 

Application Procedure:

Please send a letter describing potential projects and the fellowships for which you plan to apply, along with a resume, unofficial transcript, and writing sample to

Email:    fellowship@lafla.org

Fax:       (323) 801-7945

Mail:      Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles

             Dennis Rockway, Director of Advocacy and Training

             1102 Crenshaw Blvd.

             Los Angeles, CA  90019

Bilingual Spanish, Korean, Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Japanese, and Khmer speakers are strongly encouraged to apply.

LAFLA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Candidates are chosen solely on merit without discrimination because of age, race, sex, religion, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability.