CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW invites applications for a full-time, one-year fellowship position within its Second Chance Reentry Clinic beginning Summer of 2025. Renewal for a second year is possible depending on funding and performance. Applicants should be practitioners and/or recent law school graduates with some litigation experience and have an interest in developing expertise in a law school clinic setting.
About the Second Chance Reentry Clinic:
Case Western Reserve University School of Law has a dynamic and nationally recognized Experiential Education curriculum. The highly regarded Milton and Charlotte Kramer Law Clinic forms part of this curriculum. The Second Chance Reentry Clinic represents individuals facing legal barriers as a result of their criminal records. The Clinic’s cases sit at the intersection of the civil and criminal justice systems and tackle issues related to mass incarceration, prisoner reentry, and the collateral consequences of criminal convictions. The Second Chance Reentry Clinic is a partnership with and is funded by the Cuyahoga County Office of Reentry. The
project was designed to help remove barriers to individuals returning from incarceration.
The successful candidate can expect to handle cases in a variety of legal settings, including state court and administrative agencies, and may participate in policy advocacy. The Second Chance Reentry Clinic gives third-year students practical, hands-on experience under faculty supervision.
Fellowship Description and Responsibilities:
The primary role of the Fellow/Scholar is to engage in direct client representation and to provide assistance, where appropriate, with supervision and training for law students who will directly represent clients. The success candidate will engage in activities that include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Provide direct representation to qualified clients referred through the Office of Reentry and other agencies in civil, criminal, and administrative proceedings. Areas of representation include but are not limited to: Criminal Record Sealing and Expungement; Eviction Record Sealing; Certificate of Qualification for Employment; Relief from Weapon’s Disability; Driver’s License Reinstatement; Child Support Modification; Clemency; and more.
- Support the Supervising Attorney in providing training, supervision, and support for law students enrolled in the Second Chance Reentry Clinic.
- Help staff community events attended by individuals seeking assistance with addressing legal barriers related to their criminal records.
- Additional non-litigation responsibilities will include advocacy, public speaking, and administrative clinic support such as case intake, planning and managing events, and meeting with funders and other community partners.
Qualifications:
Mandatory qualifications:
- A JD degree from an approved, ABA accredited law school, with a record of strong academic achievement.
- Bar licensure in Ohio or eligible to waive into the jurisdiction, or awaiting July 2025 bar exam results.
- Strong research and writing skills, effective interpersonal skills, and a demonstrated interest and intention of practicing in the field of public interest law.
- Demonstrated ability to exercise independent judgment about priority issues; interpersonal skills to help the Clinic maintain and grow relationships with community partners; manage representation of multiple clients; provide meaningful advice to students where appropriate; and complete assignments and legal work with minimal supervision.
Preferences:
- 0-3 years of legal practice experience.
- Experience working in legal settings and with individuals, community groups, and organizations.
- Experience in litigation.
Applicants should send a letter of interest, resume, list of references, and complete law school transcript to the attention of Sarah M. Polly at sarah.polly@case.edu. This posting will remain open until filled. Case Western Reserve University is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants are protected under federal and state laws and university policy from discrimination based on race, color,
religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national or ethnic origin, protected veteran status, disability, age and genetic information.
Case Western Reserve University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act regarding reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities Applications requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the CWRU Office of Equity at 216.368.3066 to request a reasonable accommodation. Determinations as to granting reasonable accommodations for any applicant will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Further information about the law school is available at http://law.case.edu.