Below are listings of union-side labor law firms that have agreed to participate in the 2015 AFL-CIOs Lawyers Coordinating Committee Minority Outreach Program. The program is designed to introduce minority law students to the practice of labor law and to the labor community by providing summer clerkship opportunities with the participating firms and union legal departments. Students with a demonstrated interest in labor law, as well as those students who may be interested in the field, are encouraged to participate in the program. Students should contact the firms directly with inquiries or applications, and are advised to reference the LCC Minority Outreach Program in all correspondence.We will continue to update this site with additional employers.
ARIZONA
Lubin & Enoch, P.C.
349 North Fourth Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85003-1505
http://www.lubinandenoch.com/enoch_bio.shtml
Lubin & Enoch, P.C. seeks a summer associate for its downtown Phoenix office for the summer of 2015. The summer associate will assist our attorneys prepare for hearings and brief issues before arbitrators as well as all courts and administrative agencies in matters arising under traditional (e.g., National Labor Relations Act, Railway Labor Act, Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act) and non-traditional labor and employment law representation. Applicants must possess excellent research and writing skills and, of equal importance, a strong commitment to representing the interests of working people. Spanish speaking applicants are strongly encouraged to apply. The summer associate will be paid twenty-dollars per hour ($20/hr.) with the possibility of continued part-time employment through the school year.
Interested applicants should mail a cover letter and résumé to: Nicholas J. Enoch, Esq., Lubin & Enoch, P.C., 349 North 4th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85003-1505.
CALIFORNIA
Altshuler Berzon LLP
177 Post Street, Suite 300
San Francisco, CA 94108
415/362-8064 – fax
http://www.altshulerberzon.com
The firm hires four or five summer associates each year who have completed at least two years of law school. Summer associates have work assignments similar to those of associates. Summer associates are also invited to attend court appearances and depositions, participate in a weekly attorney lunch discussing current litigation issues, and join in various social activities.
Summer associates can expect to work on a variety of matters for international and local unions, workers, environmental groups, governmental entities, and other clients, involving such areas as labor, civil rights, environmental, election, and immigration law.
Recent summer associate projects have included: researching legal issues in a constitutional challenge to Ohio’s provisional ballot law; drafting a portion of a federal court of appeals brief on First Amendment issues; drafting a brief opposing a motion to stay a class action lawsuit pending arbitration; drafting a complaint in a Proposition 65 enforcement action; researching Supremacy Clause issues in a U.S. Supreme Court case; researching issues in a union arbitration; drafting a class notice; drafting a portion of a federal court of appeals brief on consumer issues; drafting portions of a federal court of appeals brief on age discrimination; drafting a position statement to the NLRB; researching a union grievance; researching vote dilution issues; drafting an opening and reply brief on a motion to intervene to defend a minimum wage law; researching prevailing wage requirements; drafting a reply brief in support of a petition for review in the California Supreme Court; research in preparation for appellate argument; drafting a brief in support of transferring a federal court action; drafting a motion for summary judgment; and drafting a portion of a mediation brief.
Summer associates work with several different partners and associates during the course of the summer. The nature of the work and particular assignments vary, but usually involve in-depth research and writing, often on issues of first impression. Assignments range from short research projects to continuing work on different aspects of a case throughout the entire summer. Split summers with other law firms are not permitted. We do not hire first-year law students for summer associate positions.
The firm chooses summer associates based on research and writing ability, academic record, recommendations, and commitment to the work of the firm. We are particularly interested in individuals who are creative and who enjoy working on challenging legal issues. People of color are particularly urged to apply.
Our firm hires in the fall of each year (2Ls only) for the following summer. Applicants should send a résumé, writing sample, law school transcript, and list of references to:
Michael Rubin
Altshuler Berzon LLP
177 Post Street, Suite 300
San Francisco, California 94108
You may also reach us by e-mail: mrubin@altshulerberzon.com
or by fax at (415) 362-8064.
Bush Gottlieb
500 North Central Avenue, Suite 800
Glendale, CA 91203
(818) 973-3257
Bush Gottlieb is a union-side labor firm in the Los Angeles area representing private and public-sector labor unions and multi-employer trust funds in various industries. We are currently seeking applications for our 2015 summer law clerk program. Candidates should have a superior academic background and excellent communication, research, writing and leadership skills. Equally important is an applicant’s commitment to the labor movement, workers’ rights and the practice of union-side labor law. Our practice is challenging and diverse, and provides an ideal balance between representing unions in the private and public sector. We prefer applicants in their second year of law school, who have taken a course or will have completed a course, in basic labor law and/or employee benefits. However, we will consider first year students with a background working with labor unions. If you are interested and would like us to consider your application, please forward a cover letter, résumé, transcript and writing sample to Erica Deutsch. For more information on the firm and our practice areas, please visit our website at www.bushgottlieb.com. We are an equal opportunity employer and seek a diverse pool of candidates.
Leonard Carder, LLP
1188Franklin Street, #201
San Francisco, CA 94109
Leonard Carder, LLP, a union/worker-side labor and employment law firm is currently accepting applications from qualified candidates for Summer 2015 Law Clerks.
About Leonard Carder, LLP
Leonard Carder, LLP is proud to protect and advance workplace rights through its representation of labor unions and prosecution of class actions and multi-plaintiff and individual lawsuits. With our international and local labor union clients, we represent working people in both the private and public sectors, in industries as varied as the longshore, maritime, hospitality, transportation, health care, higher education, construction, utility, technical, and professional sectors. Our attorneys serve the labor movement by providing vigorous legal representation and strategic counsel to labor unions. We represent our union clients in cases before state and federal courts, administrative agencies, and in private arbitration. Our attorneys also counsel labor unions on all manner of critical issues, including organizing; collective bargaining; contract enforcement; internal governance; and political, electoral, and legislative matters. We also have a long and celebrated history of representing workers in class actions and individual lawsuits to enforce wage and hour and other employment laws, and have been recognized for handling ground-breaking cases involving independent contractor misclassification. Leonard Carder also counsels and litigates on behalf of dozens of pension, health, and other employee benefit plans covering workers, retirees, and their families.
For more information about our work, please visit our website at www.leonardcarder.com.
How to Apply:
Please e-mail a cover letter, resume and short writing sample: lgregerson@leonardcarder.com
2Ls only please. Salary : $25 per hour. Assignment to San Francisco or Oakland Office TBD based on needs at time of placement as well as candidate’s individual qualifications.
Leonard Carder, LLP is an equal opportunity employer. People of color, women, LGBTQ, and candidates with disabilities encouraged to apply.
Operating Engineers Local Union No. 3
1620 South Loop Road
Alameda, CA 94502
Operating Engineers Local Union No. 3 Legal Department headquartered in Alameda, CA seeks law student externs (unpaid position). Candidates will receive a small stipend for gas/tolls. We perform traditional labor and employment law providing direct client service to approximately 34,000 members in Northern California, Northern Nevada, Utah and Hawaii.
Local 3 represents members in private sector construction, and public employees including state workers, public safety officers, city employees, and county employees. The Legal Department represents workers in contract interpretation and disciplinary matters.
We work alongside business representatives to provide the full service of a labor organization to the membership. We are looking for students (any year of law school) who are committed to working for the benefit of working people.
Please send résumé, writing sample and transcript to: Jolsna John, Operating Engineers Local Union No. 3, 1620 South Loop Road, Alameda, CA 94502, jjohn@oe3.org.
Rothner, Segall & Greenstone
510 S. Marengo Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91101
Rothner, Segall & Greenstone represents public and private-sector labor unions and employees. Our firm is made up of devoted labor movement lawyers who are unrelenting advocates for justice, equity, and workers’ rights. Each year, we hire one outstanding candidate who has completed her second year of law school. We view our summer associates not only as potential candidates for our firm, but also as future champions of the labor movement.
Our firm takes great pride in giving summer associates work opportunities that mirror the daily work done by our partners and associates while providing exposure to the wide variety of issues that arise in the labor and employment field. A summer associate can expect to take on brief-writing, assist with arbitrations, meet with clients, and work on litigation in state court, federal court, and various administrative agencies.
We encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply. Demonstrated interest or experience in the labor movement or other social justice organizations is preferred but not required. While our firm will give special consideration to second-year law students and students who have taken labor or employment law are preferred, the position is open to all candidates. For more information about our firm, please visit our website at www.rsglabor.com. For more information about the 2015 Summer Associate Position, please contact Eli Naduris-Weissman at enw@rsglabor.com.
Our firm contact information is: Rothner, Segall & Greenstone, 510 S. Marengo Ave., Pasadena, CA 91101.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
AFL-CIO
Office of the General Counsel
815 16th Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20006
202/637-5323 – fax
http://www.aflcio.org/
The AFL-CIO’s Legal Department seeks summer law clerks to assist on a variety of legal and public policy issues involving the Federation’s affiliated unions and the national labor movement. The AFL-CIO is a voluntary federation of 56 national and international labor unions whose mission is to bring social and economic justice to our nation by enabling working people to have a voice on the job, in government, in a changing global economy and in their communities. The law clerks’ duties include legal research and writing in a wide range of areas, including NLRA, FLSA, and a host of legislative, regulatory and public policy matters, including immigrant worker rights. Applicants must have a demonstrated commitment to the labor movement and to issues affecting working families. 2Ls preferred. Send résumé, transcript and writing sample to Angelia Wade Stubbs, Associate General Counsel, awstubbs@aflcio.org.
AFGE
80 F Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20001
202-379-2928
The American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO is the largest federal-sector labor union, representing over 650,000 federal and D.C. government workers from over 75 different agencies. In the summer of 2011, AFGE won the largest union election in over 50 years, becoming the exclusive representative of over 44,000 transportation security officers working for TSA. AFGE has continuously increased membership every year for the past decade, due in part to the representation successes provided by the General Counsel’s Office and other professional representatives.
Legal interns at AFGE perform legal research and writing involving a wide variety of issues in federal and DC public sector labor law. Writing assignments include internal memos involving legal analysis on labor, employment, and policy issues. Our legal interns also prepare, under the supervision of an attorney, appeals and written arguments on behalf of workers facing discipline, removal, or other adverse actions. This typically involves client intake, witness interviews, document review, research and writing. Interns have always told us they like this hands-on, direct involvement in representing workers. Other duties include: contacts with district, local, and national union officials to obtain information relating to the preparation of cases; assistance in the preparation of briefs and other legal pleadings for court, administrative, and arbitration cases; assistance in preparing court and administrative cases for hearing under the direct guidance of an attorney.
Our General Counsel’s Office in Washington has about 25 attorneys and, normally, between 6 and 10 legal interns. Each intern receives an initial orientation and training. Staff attorneys provide mentoring, guidance, and direction to the interns, in addition to supervising their legal work. If possible, interns are invited to attend a court hearing or arbitration when a staff attorney has a case nearby.
In addition to their formal duties, our interns usually have an opportunity to participate in a few rallies or marches for labor and other progressive causes. This helps break up the routine and gives the interns a flavor of the larger struggle for labor rights and social justice.
AFGE legal interns work approximately 20 hrs. per week at $18/hr. Our offices are on Capitol Hill, just a short walk from the Capitol and Union Station. Easy access to D.C.’s Metrorail subway system makes it easy to commute to the office from anywhere in the city.
AFGE is an equal opportunity employer.
Required Documents: Cover letter, resume, and writing sample.
Desired Class Level: 2L and 3L
Contact: Chad E. Harris, Acting Supervising Attorney
American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO
80 F Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20001
202-379-2928
harric@afge.org
AFSCME
Office of the General Counsel
1101 17th Street, NW, Suite 900
Washington, DC 20036
A successful candidate for a law clerk position with the AFSCME Office of the General Counsel should possess good research and writing skills, demonstrated academic excellence and a serious commitment to work for the labor movement.
AFSCME is the fastest growing union in the country with over 1.4 million members and primarily represents employees within the public sector. The Office of the General Counsel provides in-house legal advice to the officers and employees of AFSCME and to affiliates throughout the country.
The Office of the General Counsel is active in initiating and defending litigation before state and federal courts and administrative agencies to safeguard the interests of the union. In addition to traditional issues of labor and employment law, the Office confronts issues of constitutional law, contract law and separation of powers issues. The Office also provides substantial assistance to the union’s organizing and legislative departments in developing strategy and drafting legislation.
Salary: $20.00 per hour. 2Ls preferred.
Contact Person: Nick Serrano, Associate General Counsel
O’Donoghue & O’Donoghue LLP
4748 Wisconsin Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20016
O’Donoghue & O’Donoghue LLP is one of the oldest and largest union-side law firms in the United States, with twenty nine attorneys engaged in the representation of labor unions and employee benefit plans. The firm is accepting applications for full-time summer associates in its Washington, DC office for the summer 2015. Our summer program is structured to provide summer associates with meaningful exposure to the firm’s labor, benefits and governmental affairs practices and an overall experience that closely resembles life as an associate of the firm.
Applicants in their second-year of law school are strongly preferred, and salary is $1,200 per week. In addition to superior academic performance, successful applicants will be able to demonstrate, experience, coursework and/or a well-articulated interest in labor law and/or employee benefits law. To apply, please send a cover letter, résumé, transcript, references and a short writing sample (5 or fewer pages) by regular mail or by PDF sent via email to:
Scott M. Seedorf, Esq.
O’Donoghue & O’Donoghue LLP
4748 Wisconsin Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20016
sseedorf@odonoghuelaw.com
PLEASE, NO TELEPHONE INQUIRIES
NEW YORK
Cohen, Weiss and Simon LLP
330 West 42nd Street
New York, N.Y. 10036
Cohen, Weiss and Simon LLP is a full service union-side labor, employee benefits, and employment law firm. The firm represents national, regional and local labor unions, pension plans, welfare plans, and the interests of employees in a wide variety of matters.
Cohen, Weiss and Simon LLP seeks Law Clerks for Summer 2015. Applicants should be 2Ls with strong research and writing skills. Coursework in Labor Law and/or ERISA is preferred. Union, journal and/or moot court experience is a plus. Compensation is $25/hour. Women, minorities and people of color are strongly encouraged to apply.
Interested applicants should email a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and law school transcript to Ms. Marcelle J. Henry, Esq. at mhenry@cwsny.com. No phone calls, please.
CSEA, Inc., Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO
143 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12210
Position: Summer Law Clerk
About CSEA: CSEA, Inc., Local 1000, is a Labor Organization representing 250,000 plus members who are employed in the public and private sector. CSEA’s headquarters and Legal Department are located in Albany, NY. The eleven attorneys in the Legal Department are engaged in all facets of labor and employment litigation and practice in federal and states courts, and administrative tribunals such as the New York Public Employment Relations Board, National Labor Relations Board, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, New York State Division of Human Rights, etc.
Job Description: Law Clerks may receive assignments from any of the eleven staff attorneys. Typical assignments include legal research and writing on various topics relating to the rights and obligations of the Union and its members. Also, Law Clerks may assist attorneys in case preparation including witness interviews.
Although primarily focused on labor and employment law issues, research and writing assignments can cover a range of diverse issues such as municipal law, public health law and education law.
Hiring Criteria:
- Excellent research and writing skills.
- Commitment to the labor movement and the issues of working people.
- 2L students are preferred.
Salary: $12/hour (35 hours a week for 12 weeks)
Contact Info (email preferred):
Aaron E. Kaplan, Esq.
Civil Service Employees Association – CSEA
143 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12210
aaron.kaplan@cseainc.org
Requested documents:
- Cover letter
- Resume
- Unofficial transcript
- Writing sample
Levy Ratner, PC
80 Eighth Avenue, Eighth Floor
New York, NY 10011
212/627-8182 – fax
Levy, Ratner, P.C. serves unions and workers in the following areas: labor law (NLRB, arbitration, litigation, LMRDA, union elections), employee pension and health benefits, Taft/Hartley benefit funds/ERISA, employment discrimination, wage and hour law, severance and employment contracts. We also provide services in the fields of civil rights, election and campaign finance, and general litigation. Some of our union clients include 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East; Local 2110, UAW; Utility Workers Local 1-2; UNITE-HERE, National Postal Mail Handlers Union Local 300 and CWA, NY Typographical Union Local 14156. Law clerk position entails research and writing on a variety of legal topics, as well as the potential for client contact depending on the particular assignment. Excellent research (both computer and book based) and writing skills and an ability to work under short deadlines essential. Relevant labor and employment law classes and experience and/or a demonstrated commitment to the labor movement and protecting workers rights preferred. Send résumé, references, transcript, unedited writing sample and cover letter to Micah Wissinger, Esq.
TEXAS
Deats Durst Owen & Levy, PLLC
1204 San Antonio, Suite 203
Austin, TX 78701
Deats, Durst, Owen & Levy, PLLC, in Austin, Texas plans to hire 1-2 law clerks for summer 2015. Our firm’s work focuses on employee-side labor and employment law, civil trial and appellate law, and public interest and civil rights litigation. Our firm represents union public- and private-sector employees in a number of fields, including law enforcement, fire and emergency response, education, custodial services and others. We seek clerks for half-summer or full-summer clerkships. Workload is expected to be flexible and to be 35+ hours per week, and compensation will be $21 per hour. Preference will be given to second-year students, but first-year students who are strong candidates will be considered. To apply, please send a cover letter, unofficial transcript and writing sample to Manuel Quinto-Pozos at mqp@ddollaw.com. For more information on our firm, please visit http://www.ddollaw.com/.
VIRGINIA
United Mine Workers of America
18354 Quantico Gateway Drive
Triangle, VA 22172
703-291-2448 – fax
The United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) is seeking a full-time summer law clerk. The UMWA is an international labor union that primarily represents coal miners in the U.S. and Canada but whose membership is growing in the manufacturing, health care, and public service sectors. The UMWA Headquarters’ Legal Department consists of four attorneys and at least one law clerk, with an additional attorney in the field. Our work regularly includes worker organizing, supporting collective bargaining negotiations, enforcing collective bargaining agreements through arbitration and litigation, health and safety matters, protecting our members in the event of worksite closings, litigating within administrative legal frameworks to protect our members’ workplace rights, litigating in state and federal courts to protect our members’ rights and benefits, and advising UMWA leaders regarding internal union affairs.
Clerks gain substantial legal research and writing experience, and have the opportunity to take on significant responsibility. For example, one recent clerk wrote half of a brief filed with the National Labor Relations Board, another prepared the memo in support of summary judgment for a case in a federal district court, and another prepared most of a circuit court brief. At the same time, clerks work closely with each of the experienced attorneys in the legal department, who offer guidance and supervision as well as the chance for clerks to learn about different areas of law and to experience diverse lawyering styles. In addition to more traditional legal work, clerks often have unconventional experiences, such as attending a meeting of the UMWA’s International Executive Board, observing collective bargaining negotiations or depositions, helping to facilitate rallies, assisting in Congressional hearings, and meeting with UMWA leaders. Like staff lawyers, our law clerks have been very satisfied with their work experiences at the UMWA, and the Union is committed to continuing this tradition. In fact, the UMWA was highlighted in America’s Greatest Places To Work With A Law Degree. We have offered a salary of $15 per hour in the past, but this amount is subject to change. We prefer, but do not require, that applicants have completed a labor law course. Both first- and second-year students are invited to apply beginning on January 5, 2015.
Contact:
Laura Karr
Staff Attorney
United Mine Workers of America
18354 Quantico Gateway Drive, Suite 200
Triangle, VA 22172
lkarr@umwa.org