The Social Enterprise and Nonprofit Law Clinic will open in Fall 2013. The Clinic introduces and orients law students to the materials, expectations, disciplines, and vocabulary of corporate law practice while also challenging students to reflect on and innovate legal reforms that further the social enterprise movement. The Clinic embraces a focused and explicit use of clinical education to enhance law students' commitment to laws and business practices that promote triple-bottom line corporate sustainability, which in its most expansive meaning includes financial and environmental sustainability as well as the physical, psychological, and social well-being of individuals and communities.
In the Clinic, law students learn about corporate governance and contexts, shareholders and stakeholders, business relationships and operations, and business documents. Students are taught how to become partners in enterprise for their clients with the understanding that innovative business lawyers understand both the legal and non-legal incentive structures that drive business organizations.
The Clinic’s clients consist of (1) social enterprises, i.e., nonprofits and select for-profit businesses that employ innovative business techniques to accomplish social and environmental goals, and (2) middle-market and established nonprofit organizations and foundations working in a wide range of fields including social services, education, youth development, technology, health, sustainable agriculture, and civil rights.
Description of Fellowship
The two-year fellowship is an ideal position for a transactional lawyer interested in developing teaching and supervisory abilities in a setting that emphasizes a dual commitmentundefinedclinical education of law students and the promotion of triple-bottom line corporate sustainability. The fellow will have several areas of responsibility, with an increasing role as the fellowship progresses. Over the course of the fellowship, the fellow will: (i) supervise students in representing nonprofit organizations and social enterprises on transactional, operational, and corporate governance matters, (ii) share responsibility for teaching seminar sessions, and (iii) share in the administrative and case handling responsibilities of the Clinic. Fellows also participate in a clinical pedagogy seminar and other activities designed to support an interest in clinical teaching and legal education. The fellowship start date is July 1, 2013, and the fellowship is for two years, ending June 30, 2015.
Qualifications
Applicants must have at least 3 years of post J.D. legal experience. Preference will be given to applicants with experience in a transactional area of practice such as nonprofit law and tax, corporate law, intellectual property, real estate, or finance. Applicants with a strong commitment to economic justice and corporate sustainability are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be admitted or willing to be admitted to the District of Columbia Bar.
Application Process
To apply, send a resume, an official or unofficial law school transcript, C.V., and a detailed letter of interest by December 1, 2012. The letter should be no longer than two pages and address a) why you are interested in this fellowship; b) what you can contribute to the Clinic; c) your experience with transactional matters and/or corporate law; and d) anything else that you consider pertinent. Please address your application to Professor Alicia Plerhoples, Georgetown Law, 600 New Jersey Ave., NW, Suite 434, Washington, D.C. 20001, or electronically to socialenterprise@law.georgetown.edu.