The Impact Litigation and Social Justice Section of the Santa Clara County Counsel’s Office is accepting applications for a one-year Fellowship beginning in September 2010.
The Impact Litigation and Social Justice Section conducts affirmative litigation on behalf of the County, drafts local ordinances, advocates for state legislation on issues of interest to the County, and develops novel policies and programs to advance the County’s goal of securing social and economic justice for all its residents. Our current cases include an action to hold lead paint manufacturers liable for the public nuisance they created by marketing lead paint as a safe product; a lawsuit challenging California’s practice of terminating children’s Medi-Cal eligibility when they enter the juvenile justice system; and an action against pharmaceutical companies for overcharging public hospitals. In addition, we have a number of active investigations that we expect will result in litigation, including challenges to widespread race discrimination in particular industries; business activities that target and endanger youth; fraud on the County; and interference with immigrants’ rights. In all our work, we strive to advance local, state, and national public policy reform through progressive local government action.
Starting in 2008, County Counsel has sponsored a Fellowship program that selects talented new lawyers and trains them as local government litigators and advisors, whose goal is to advance social justice in the County and beyond. The Fellow will help to shape a growing movement to use the power and unique perspective of local government to drive long-lasting social change. As an integral part of the Impact Litigation and Social Justice Section, the Fellow will identify and develop new cases for our public-policy impact litigation docket; conduct legal research and analysis; draft pleadings, ordinances, resolutions, memoranda and opinions; and participate in all aspects of ongoing litigation. The Fellow also will be assigned a departmental client and/or special projects in the General Government section of the County Counsel’s Office. Past fellows also have helped teach courses about social change through local government law at Stanford and Santa Clara law schools and have supervised externs. Special attention is paid to the professional development of attorneys in the fellowship program to foster a lifelong commitment to public service and a focus on municipal governance.
The position is open to recent law school graduates and judicial clerks. Salary is highly competitive. To apply, please send a resume, a cover letter describing your relevant experience and interest in working through local government to advance the public interest, a writing sample, the names and telephone numbers of two references, and an unofficial law school transcript to Tamara Lange at fellowship@cco.sccgov.org. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis from October 5, 2009, until November 30, 2009, although late applications may be considered. If the deadline is changed, notice will be posted under the “Employment Opportunities" section of this website.
The County of Santa Clara is an Equal Opportunity Employer
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