The Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program, sponsored by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, is a prestigious, paid government fellowship for recent graduate students who are interested in government service. The PMF Program is a great way to get your foot in the door with the federal government. In order to apply, you must be nominated by WCL. (continued)

The Office of Career and Professional Development invites all 2Ls and 3Ls to join us for the Third Annual WCL Public Interest Speed Networking Event Tuesday, September 15th from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. in the sixth floor dining area. Registration is now open on CareerLink. Space is limited, so register early. (continued)

Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts (IOLTA) programs were instituted by many states as a method of funding legal services providers.  During a strong economy, these funds generated millions of dollars for local legal aid offices, but over the past year the downturn in the economy has severely depleted these funds.  As a result, legal services providers have smaller budgets and fewer staff to meet the rising demand for legal assistance.  This Daily Times Reader article examines the impact of a 90% cut in IOLTA funding for a Mississippi legal aid.  (continued)

According to an article by ExecutiveGovernment.com, the federal government increased use of federal loan repayment programs by 22 percent from 2007 to 2008, citing the programs as a key recruitment and rentention tool (according to an Office of Personnel Management report).  During calendar year 2008, 35 federal agencies provided 6,879 employees with $51.6 million in student loan repayments.  Agencies can contribute as much as $10,000 annually, and $60,000 total, per employee; in return, recipients must to commit to three years of federal service.  Of participating agencies, the Justice Department provided the most assistance, spending $23,420,746 on loan relief for 2,610 employees. Other major participants included the Defense and State departments, Government Accountability Office, and Securities and Exchange Commission. (continued)

Welcome to the 2009-10 school year!  The WCL Office of Public Interest (OPI) is excited to have our upperclass students back on campus and to welcome a new class of 1L students.  OPI educates law students about their professional responsibility to perform public service work as practicing attorneys, fostering a lifelong commitment to public service. (continued)

The Peggy Browning Fund is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to educate and inspire the next generation of advocates for workplace justice. Through fellowships, workers’ rights conferences, networking and other programs, the Fund provides unique opportunities for law students to work for economic and social justice.

The Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia seeks an attorney to serve as an Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Legal Fellow to work on a foreclosure prevention project. The Project will engage in outreach, counseling and litigation to assist low-income homeowners to prevent loss due to foreclosure or foreclosure related fraud. The selected attorney will engage in a range of activities to assist low-income individuals and families to prevent the loss of a home through foreclosure. Tasks will include community education, client counseling, negotiation with lenders and litigation.  Click here to read the full job description.  The position must be filled by September 30, 2009.

U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI), a non-governmental, not-for-profit organization dedicated to addressing the needs and rights of refugees and immigrants seeks two highly-motivated and creative individuals with experience in the immigration law field for its program, The National Center for Refugee and Immigrant Children. USCRI has served refugees and immigrants and defended the rights of refugees, asylum seekers, and internally displaced persons worldwide since 1911.

"Only law firms hire during On-Campus Interviewing."  This is a common misconception about fall OCI recruitment.  This year a full 30% of OCI employers are government and public interest.  Students are encouraged to visit CareerLink and view the employers week-by-week for a full rundown of the government and public interest employers visiting the WCL campus this fall.  And check back often, as additional government and public interest employers will be added in the weeks to come.

The Central American Resource Center (CARECEN) Legal Services Department seeks applicants for two Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Legal Fellowships focusing on immigration and community legal services beginning in September 2009. Each fellowship can be extended to one additional year.

The Equal Justice Works Fellowships Program addresses the shortage of attorneys working on behalf of traditionally under-served populations and causes in the United States and its territories. The program provides financial and technical support to lawyers working on innovative and effective legal projects. The two-year Fellowships offer salary and generous loan repayment assistance; a national training and leadership development program; and other forms of support during the term of the Fellowship.  Since 2000, 17 WCL graduates have received Equal Justice Works Fellowships. 

Beginning today, Income-Based Repayment (IBR) is available as a repayment option for all federal student loans (graduate and undergraduate).  This is great news for WCL alumni!  Under IBR, monthly payments are capped at an amount intended to be affordable based on income and family size.  The IBR application is now online.