March 24, 2017

2017-18 Lawyering Teaching Fellows Opportunities

We are looking for a few top-notch upper division students who are interested in working as Teaching Fellows next year in our Lawyering classes. If helping first-year students, improving your own writing and reasoning skills, and making a few bucks to boot sounds like fun, please read on.

Q:        Just what will the Fellows do next year?

1. One of the most important duties of the Fellows will be to act as peer counselors for the first-year students. This includes advising students on such things as survival tips for law school, studying for finals, and selecting courses for the second year. More generally, Fellows are a calming voice of experience, willing to show new students how things work at Lewis and Clark.

2. Fellows also provide some preliminary assistance on student writing. This may include reviewing outlines, answering citation questions, or suggesting research strategies.

3. Fellows attend the Lawyering classes at least once a week. Regular attendance gives the students a chance to get to know the Fellows and allows Fellows to stay in touch with what’s happening in class. Consequently, you will need to consider Lawyering class times when designing your own class schedule.

4. Fellows meet with the Lawyering professors to discuss upcoming assignments, student problems, and other matters involving the Lawyering program. In addition, we include some Fellows training on research, editing, and other survival skills.

5. Some Fellows work closely with the professors in putting together fall research memos and spring Moot Court problems. Fellows also serve as judges at Oral Arguments.

Q:        What’s in it for me?

On the mundane, practical side:

An incredibly generous salary. Actually, it’s a modest stipend of $15 an hour. (But it still pays better than most classes!)

An impressive resume entry. Remember, employers look for law students with proven writing skills, and this job demonstrates your skills.

Improved writing, reasoning, and research skills. If you talk with this year’s Fellows, you’ll find almost all agree that this was a significant opportunity to improve their own skills, especially writing skills.

On the loftier, nobler side:

A chance to help first-year students. There is tremendous satisfaction in seeing students progress from their early efforts at case briefing to their polished appellate briefs and oral arguments at the end of the year. We all know the struggles of the first-year; it is rewarding to help others meet the challenges of law school.

An opportunity to contribute to the Lawyering program. You may implement your ideas on how to help first-year students.

Improving the quality of the legal profession. Admittedly, this benefit is difficult to quantify. Nonetheless, the students you help will one day be your fellow members of the bar. Why not help them get started on the right foot?

Q:        So, how much of my time will this take?

Some, but not a lot. (Nice, specific answer, huh?) Generally, at least five but usually not more than ten hours a week. Of course, the job is flexible and disappears as finals approach.

 

Q:        What do I need to do to qualify for this job?

This opportunity is open to all returning students. Fellows need to have solid writing skills. However, Fellows also must be able and willing to work with first-year students. Teaching or clerking experience is beneficial, but not required. We are also looking for a diverse group of Fellows and encourage diversity and disabled students to apply.

 

Q:        So, how do I apply for this fantastic opportunity?

It’s simple. We need three things from you:

1. A cover letter explaining why you are interested in the position. This letter should include some initiatives you would undertake to help first-year students. Would you set up workshops? Would you do something with blogs? Would you do something else?

2. Your resume.

 

3. A brief writing sample. Five pages should be enough, and an excerpt of your appellate brief should do the trick.

 

Please submit a hard copy of your materials to Prof. Steve Johansen by Monday, April 10.  Prof. Johansen’s office is Room 132 in Wood Hall.