Stanton Fellow, First Amendment Clinic - Cornell Law School

Founded in 1887, Cornell Law School is a top-tier law school, currently ranked 13th by U.S. News & World Report. We offer a 3-year JD program for about 200 students per class, a one-year LLM program for about 90 students from countries throughout the world, and a doctoral (JSD) program for about 2-3 new students per year. Cornell Law School has 41 tenured and tenure-track faculty, including 20 with chaired faculty positions; and 15 clinical professors in the legal research and writing program and in clinics at the local, national, and international level. Our faculty is consistently ranked among the top in the country for scholarly productivity and influence, and has pre-eminence in many areas, including empirical legal studies, international and comparative law, and robust doctrinal scholarship in core fields. Our school is committed to being recognized as the leader among law schools at combining inspiring theoretical, doctrinal, and experiential teaching with cutting-edge scholarship in a supportive, intellectually rich community, so that our graduates can achieve excellence in all facets of the legal profession.

Cornell University embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We strongly encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.

Reporting to the Associate Director of the First Amendment Clinic at Cornell Law School, the Stanton Fellow will collaborate with the Director, Associate Director, and other staff attorneys to support the management and activities of our newest clinical initiative, which formally launched in the spring semester of 2019, and has already become one of the nation's leading clinics of its kind. The Clinic focuses on two core objectives: (1) litigating and supporting cases and other legal proceedings that further the cause of free speech, generally, and through its innovative Local Journalism Project, aid and defend journalists and media outlets in their news-gathering functions; and (2) cultivating diverse lawyers who are educated about the freedom of speech principles embodied in the First Amendment and prepared to pursue careers defending such principles.

Responsibilities include the following:

• Provide supervision to students in the Clinic, including feedback, mentoring, and training.
• Manage ongoing cases, ensuring that the work is done in a timely and professional manner.
• Assist with the organization and teaching of the Clinic, focusing on substantive knowledge of First Amendment doctrine and the litigation process, as well as effective legal writing, advocacy, and client relations skills.
• Help organize, and participate in the teaching of, each semester's First Amendment "Bootcamp".
• Help develop the focus of cases the Clinic will work on, such as access to information, protection of sources and the news-gathering process, general libel and privacy defense, and digital information rights.
• Help hire for and supervise Interns for the Clinic's annual summer program.
• Collaborate with the Director, Associate Director and other staff attorneys on programming to bring free speech issues to the broader Law School and University communities.
• Support the research and writing of policy papers with the goal of influencing the public debate on free speech matters as well as amicus briefs in cases in which important free speech rights are at issue.
• Help maintain relationships within the legal and journalism community, including regional (New York and surrounding states) news platforms and journalists, law firms and advocacy organizations that focus on free speech and related fields, and First Amendment clinics at other law schools.
• Assist in managing the financial resources for the program, including monitoring financial activities and transactions.

This is a full-time position for a two-year term, and is benefits eligible. The successful candidate will be expected to start on July 1, 2021, although some flexibility may be available, through August 15, 2021.

Requirements:

The Stanton Fellow must be a law graduate, with practice experience and background in constitutional law, freedom of information laws or other access related work. A clerkship or clerkships are desirable, but not required. The Stanton Fellow must either be admitted to the practice of law in New York, prepared to take the New York bar exam prior to beginning the Fellowship, or be admitted on written motion after hiring.

To Apply:

Please submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, three references, a writing sample (should be an unedited or slightly edited brief or bench memo), and other significant supporting materials to https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/18256. To ensure maximum consideration, please submit all application materials by April 15, 2021. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with priority given to early applicants.

Employment Assistance:

If you require an accommodation for a disability in order to complete an employment application or to participate in the recruiting process, you are encouraged to contact Cornell University's Department of Inclusion and Workforce Diversity at voice (607) 255-3976, fax (607) 255-7481, or email at owdi@cornell.edu.

For general questions about the position or the application process, please contact the Recruiter listed in the job posting.

Applicants that do not have internet access are encouraged to visit your local library, or local Department of Labor. You may also visit the office of Workforce Recruitment and Retention Monday - Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. to use a dedicated workstation to complete an online application.

Notice to Applicants:

Please read the required Notice to Applicants statement by clicking here. This notice contains important information about applying for a position at Cornell as well as some of your rights and responsibilities as an applicant.

EEO Statement:

Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University's heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations. Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars, students, and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose, and contribute creative ideas to further the university's mission of teaching, discovery, and engagement.