OPIA Blog » Alumni

ACLU and federal government battle over warrantless wiretaps

opia — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:51:09 +0000

The contentious battle of warrantless wiretaps continues, this time with a couple of HLS alums as key attorneys in the debate. Jameel Jaffer (’99), an attorney for the ACLU, and Serrin Turner (’00) an assistant attorney with the DOJ were arguing against each other in the ongoing debate over warrantless wiretapping. The case surrounded, specifically, amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) allowing warrantless eavesdropping abroad.

The ACLU argued that the wiretapping amounts to the “interception and taping of ‘thousands and possibly millions’ of phone calls, e-mails and other communications involving Americans without warrants or probable cause.” whereas the government’s believes the “statute has mechanisms to protect Americans who are “incidental” to communications with foreigners targeted out of concern for the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States.”

To read the full article, click here.

Andrea Saenz, ‘08, fighting for the rights of immigrants

opia — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 18:45:49 +0000

A recent Boston Globe article highlights a battle over deportation and the rights of immigrants. The article highlights the case of Sunday Agbata, a Nigerian born immigrant who came to the United States as a stowaway on ship from West Africa. Agbata was ordered deported in July 2008 to Nigeria but has been sitting in jail without any explanation since he was caught. No explanation as to why he has not yet been deported has been given.
In a Supreme Court ruling in 2001, the court ruled that six months is a reasonable amount of time to allow to deport immigrants after a final decision in their case. After that, the federal government must justify the continued detention.
Andrea Saenz, a 2008 HLS graduate, is Agbata’s lawyer in the case. Saenz is currently the Equal Justice Works Fellow in the Detention Program for the Political Asylum/Immigration Representation Project (PAIR), a Boston based legal services organization.

HLS Graduate, Luke Cole ‘89, dies at 46

opia — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:26:07 +0000

The San Francisco Chronicle reported the unfortunate and devastating passing of Luke Cole, an 1989 graduate of HLS whose commitment to environmental justice and dedication to public interest work defined his career and life.
Mr. Cole was an environmental lawyer in San Francisco were he founded and was the current Executive Director for The Center for Race, Poverty and the Environment, a non-profit legal organization aimed at working towards environmental justice.
He was driving with his wife on a rural road in Western Uganda when his car was struck by a truck that veered into Mr. Cole’s path, hitting his side of the car. His wife, who survived the accident, was sent to Amsterdam where she underwent an eye operation.
Luke Cole is survived by his father, Herbert Cole, and mother, Alexandra Cole, two brothers, Peter and Thomas Cole, a sister, Sarah Cole, and a son, Zane Shelby.

Another take on the deferred associates and the job market

opia — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 01:46:06 +0000

On the Cal Law blog Legal Pad, David Coleman, a Public Defender in California believes it unjust and counter-productive to place deferred associates in public defenders offices. Coleman, an HLS alum had some pretty strong remarks about the placement of deferred associates in public defenders offices. It is not fair to young lawyers who have willingly chosen the public sector at “50 cents on the dollar” for what big firms pay to have their opportunity to accrue trial experience diminished so that same trial experience can be obtained by a civil firm lawyer who 1.) eschewed lesser compensation in favor of high salaries and bonuses, 2.) had less interest in the criminal justice system and 3.) is destined (chomping at the bit) to return to Big Law as soon as the Firm will have them back.”

To read the complete blog post, click here.

Alum suggests a ray of hope lies ahead for Sudan

opia — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 21:34:05 +0000

Rebecca Hamilton, a current fellow with Open Society Institute and HLS alum (2007), wrote an op-ed in the Boston Globe commenting on the potential positive consequences of the anticipated arrest of the president of Sudan, Omar Al Bashir, for crimes in Darfur. While immense problems still loom in Darfur – much of which Al Bashir has been blamed for – Hamilton senses that the arrest of Bashir is a necessary first step to ensure a small step forward away from corruption and perhaps towards unity and transparency. Nothing is guaranteed, but the possible arrest could prove to be popular among the Sudanese and force the international community to work on behalf of human rights. “No longer does the dividing line have to be between those who criticize the Sudanese government and those who do not. Instead it can be about those who want to align themselves with legally punishable behavior and those who reject it. Overnight, the costs of lining up silently alongside Khartoum have increased.”

To read Rebecca’s full op-ed piece, visit the site here.

HLS alumnus to lead firms public interest center

opia — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 20:36:01 +0000

Kenneth Zimmerman ‘88, former Chief Counsel to New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine and a current partner with the firm Lowenstein Sandler PC which has offices in Boston, New York, Palo Alto, and Roseland NJ, has been chosen to lead the firm’s new public interest center which it opened at the end of October.

The center will oversee the entire firm’s pro bono efforts and hopes to expand upon its commitment to “addressing significant social issues and provide community assistance.” The firm stated in a press release.

As part of the program, five associates working at Lowenstein Sandler will dedicate 25 percent of their time to the Center’s projects and help spearhead the firm’s overall pro bono efforts, which in 2007 involved some 230 lawyers and totaled nearly 19,000 hours of attorney and paralegal participation.

To read the press release, follow this link.

Click on this link to visit the firm’s website.

for more information about Ken Zimmerman, click here.

Article from The Nation featuring an Alumni’s Fight to Save a Home

opia — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 14:21:38 +0000

An article from The Nation written this past summer discusses the subprime mortgage crisis and its legal consequences in Atlanta, one of the cities hardest hit by the housing and loan crisis.

The article highlights how the subprime mortgage crisis played out both on the macro and micro level. Focusing on few families in Atlanta, Georgia, the article tries to focus on what the families went through in their efforts to keep their home.

Sarah Bolling an ‘07 alumni, is featured in the article. Bolling, who is currently working for the Legal Aid Society in Atlanta, is defending the Mitchell family and other families hit hard by the mortgage crisis.

To read the article, clink on this link

An Unlikely Career Change

opia — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 16:23:14 +0000

Sean Carter was a lawyer. He studied at Harvard with Barack Obama and comfortably worked as in-house counsel for a California mortgage company. Then he realized he was bored and deciding to unexpectedly change jobs, he pursued his other passion: comedy.

“Every month I’d take the same eight mortgage agreements and change the names and dates. It was not exactly the hardest job in the world. It was not heavy lifting. I was just bored,” he said. “It wasn’t horrible. How could you hate it? I worked indoors. I could do it asleep. Most of the time I did.”

Now working as a full-time legal humorist, he finds his job to finally have some meaning. He travels the country giving talks on subjects ranging from legal ethics to stress management. The difference between what he does and what a comedian does, as he sees it, is that he says “important things in a funny way.” Ultimately, he hopes that his lectures at corporate gatherings and organization meetings will inspire others to quit their careers and go after their dreams.

HLS Graduate Finds Public Interest Path Early

opia — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 15:05:46 +0000

A recent article by the New York Law Journal profiles Robert D. McCreanor, a young HLS graduate who found a passion for public interest early in his legal career. Having recently moved to New York, he was approached by the immigrant residents of his building for help with a landlord hardly living up to his lease. Since then, he has founded the Tenant Advocacy Project with the backing of St. John’s University, as a one-man operation designed to represent recent immigrants being preyed on by their landlords. While enduring many challenges along the way, including potential bankruptcy, he now plans to leave a private career at the firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton and Garrison once the project becomes an official law clinic of St. John’s. To read more, please click here.

A Year in Public Service at the Record

opia — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 17:42:19 +0000

As we prepare for the arrival of students in a few weeks, we have also been looking back on the past year. In perusing the archives of the Record, we found a number of stories that highlight a year of public service at HLS. A selection of the Record’s public interest stories are linked below.

Bellow Awards Honor Public Service
By: Erin Archerd 4/12/2007

One student and one alum were honored this week with a 2007 Gary Bellow Public Service Award. 3L Rebecca “Bec” Hamilton and Ariel Dulitzky, LLM ‘99, received recognition for the public service both at the Law School and internationally. The two winners were chosen by a school-wide vote.

World of Law: In-House Counsel
By: Anna Brook 3/22/2007

As part of the World of Law series, OCS and OPIA held a session exploring in-house counsel last week. Pound 107 filled up with students eager to learn about what this career path offers and how to become in-house counsel. To introduce the panelists and answer one of the main questions, moderator Ginny Greiman began by asking the participants to speak about their jobs and how they got there.

Three Recent Grads Garner Skadden Fellowships
By: Erin Archerd 2/22/2007

This is the third article in a series on public interest fellowships. The first article in the series interviewed 3L Skadden 2007 Fellows Sarah Bolling, Emily Kernan, and Spring Miller. Next week will highlight winners of other 2007 fellowships. It is never too late to apply for a Skadden Public Interest Fellowship, a one-year, renewable fellowship that pays individuals $46,000/year plus benefits to work, develop and implement a project with the organization of their choice.

World of Law: Alternative Careers Panel
Do What Makes You Tick Say HLS Grads
By: Erin Archerd 2/15/2007

You never know how your career is going to end up agreed panelists at last Thursday’s World of Law: Alternative Careers Panel. Sheila Hubbard, Associate Director of the Bernard Koteen Office of Public Interest Advising, moderated the event, which was co-sponsored by the Office of Career Services.

Start Exploring Fellowships Early
By: Erin Archerd 2/1/2007

This is the second article in a series on public interest fellowships available to HLS students. In this installment, Fellowships Director Judy Murciano shares tips on how to begin and focus the fellowship search. Judy Murciano, Fellowships Director for the Bernard Koteen Office of Public Interest Advising, has an uncanny ability to listen.

Harvard Tops Skadden Fellowships Again
3L 2007 Fellows Eager to Begin
By: Erin Archerd 1/18/2007

Harvard Law School alums and students have once again earned more Skadden Fellowships than those of any other law school. The fellowships pay a one-year salary of $46,000 and benefits, allowing fellows to pursue public interest work in a variety of fields.

Finding a 1L Public Interest Job: A How-To Guide
By: Erin Archerd 11/2/2006

Congratulations, 1L. You’ve decided to take the Summer Public Interest Funding and volunteer your services this summer. Not only do you get to help with the SPIF Auction, which is one of the highlights of the spring semester, you’re going to help others without going broke.

Can’t Get No Satisfaction!
By: Jon Hanson and Goutam Jois 10/19/2006

Just as it does every year this time, the season has clearly changed at Harvard Law School. We’re not referring to the falling leaves or the failed Sox. We’re talking about hundreds of 2Ls donning business attire for their annual migration to the Charles Hotel.

Expertise from the World of Nonprofits
By: Andrea Saenz 10/12/2007

A crowd gathered in Pound Hall on October 4th to see four successful nonprofit lawyers talk about public service, work-life balance, and “the best loss ever.” The World of Law: Nonprofits panel, hosted by the Bernard Koteen Office for Public Interest Advising, was moderated by Legal Aid Bureau instructor David Grossman, and featured a lively and honest discussion of the realities of working in the nonprofit center.

Public Interest Orientation
By: Erin Archerd 9/21/2006

Nearly two-thirds of the 1L class filled the seats and aisles of Austin North last Tuesday evening for the annual Public Interest Orientation. Many were visibly moved by hearing featured speaker Bryan Stevenson, ‘85, describe his work as an advocate for death row inmates in Alabama and by his exhortations for students to “hold on” and “create justice.

An Open Letter to the Pigeon
By: Andrea Saenz 9/21/2006

To the person who wrote last week’s editorial, “Being the Braver Pigeon: To OCI or Not OCI”: Your editorial broke my heart. It was incredibly hard to read. I kept thinking of friends of mine you might be. And this is coming from a person who has been telling people that your story is the story of elite law schools for a whole year; that while plenty of students find fulfillment at firms small and large, there are dozens, maybe even hundreds who end up shelving their government or public interest dreams for the job security and sky-high salaries of large law firms that they already know they won’t like.

Amos’s Sermon: Consider An Overseas Fellowship To Enhance Your Development
By: Amos Jones 9/14/2006

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, September 3, 2006 – “Australia is facing deep cultural conflict over same-sex marriages, religious influences on policy and whether to add a bill of rights to the constitution. Post-modern constitutional lawmaking plays a dynamic role in seeing Australia through these complex relations.

Education Law Center of Pennsylvania
By: Erin Archerd 9/14/2006

When you walk into the offices of the Education Law Center and turn down the hall to your right, you’ll see a wall covered in framed photographs. The frames don’t match. Many of the photos are printouts on standard 8.5 x 11 office paper. The pictures aren’t aligned neatly or in any discernable order.

Being The Braver Pigeon: To OCI or Not To OCI
9/14/2006

In the past week, I’ve been to the DOJ info session, the DC headhunters talk, an advising appointment with a DC headhunter, an advising appointment with OPIA, firm cocktail receptions, firm brunches. I’ve talked to my parents, best friends from college, law school friends, lawyers whom I happen to know, old bosses.