Vote for justice! November 18, 2009
Posted by equaljusticeworks in Fellows, foreclosure, legal services, public interest law.Tags: access to justice, equal justice, foreclosure homelessness prevention, human rights, low-income communities
add a comment
Vote for justice! Here’s the chance to help fight homelessness, prevent foreclosure, protect immigrants’ rights – to battle injustices across the country. See what public interest lawyers (nonprofit attorneys) can accomplish with funding and support from Equal Justice Works.
You’ve read all about the 160 attorneys working in the field now on some of the most pressing issues facing poor communities – foreclosure, homelessness, access to health care. Now’s the time to join us and support our efforts to ensure justice for everyone.
Looking for a job? You’ve come to the right place November 17, 2009
Posted by equaljusticeworks in Career Fair.Tags: Conference and Career Fair, internship law school, job law graduate, law student job, legal internship, opportunities for lawyers, University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law
add a comment
This post was written by Debra Reh, Program Assistant for the Office of Career Services. It originally appeared on the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law blog.
On October 24th and 25th a group of ten students from the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law attended the Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair in Washington, DC. Ten students, seven third-years and three second-years ventured to the nation’s capital in order to explore Public Interest opportunities. This was the first time that any of our students attended…
Some of the students had specific goals. Jessica Kingley, a third-year student, knew that she wanted to meet with the New York District County Attorney’s Office as well as Public Service people from New York City and turn it into a job. Guion Johnstone, a second-year student, attended with four actual interviews scheduled. Rexena Napier and Melissa McHendrix, both third-year students and both interested in animal law, knew that there wouldn’t be any employers dedicated to solely animal law, but viewed the conference as a way to learn about other related opportunities. Victor Revill, a third-year student and president of the SBA, knew ahead of time that his approximately “five minute introduction speech” needed to be well-rehearsed and fine tuned for each prospective employer.
All of the students were committed to public service work prior to attending the conference. Jamie Izlar, a second-year student, worked in a public interest position before attending law school. Her work involved working with indigent, undocumented immigrants. Colleen Hagan, a third-year student said that the rewarding part of going to such a big conference with so many attendees is that the students all are like-minded and want to be part of a greater good. Students felt encouraged to see so many employers who focus on public service.
Besides the career fair and Table Talk sessions, students attended workshops, sessions, discussions and had the privilege of hearing Ralph Nader speak. Samantha Thomas, a second-year student, attended a government workshop which supplied her with tips (call specific government agencies, keep applying and find a niche). Jamie Izlar attended a resume building session which she found extremely helpful and also attended several discussions where she learned which employers will pay for law school student loans. Rexena Napier attended a workshop that gave her a lot of ideas including applying for grants.
All of the students who attended felt it was worthwhile to attend and felt a deeper sense of commitment to public service. Duffy Trager came away with connections and a lot of business cards that he intends to follow up with. Samantha Thomas plans to capitalize on what she observed at the conference and use it to shape what she does in law school. Melissa McHendrix said that the most worthwhile aspect of the conference for her was meeting other students and discussing what organizations are non-profit and in the public sector…
For the complete article, visit http://www.law.louisville.edu/node/4101.
-Aaron
Equal Justice Works sends 160 attorneys into field to fight social justice issues November 17, 2009
Posted by equaljusticeworks in Uncategorized.add a comment
The FDA Steps In: Regulating Prescription Drug Promotion on the Internet November 13, 2009
Posted by equaljusticeworks in alumni.Tags: FDA, FDA hearing, Health Care Blog, Health Reform Watch, Kate Greenwood, pharmaceutical industry, PhRMA, promotion FDA regulated medical products internet social media, regulating prescription drugs
add a comment
This is a guest post from Equal Justice Works Alumna Kate Greenwood. It was first published at Health Reform Watch, a publication of Seton Hall Law School, and also appeared on the Health Care Blog. 
The FDA has been widely criticized for not providing guidance for drug companies eager to promote their products on the internet. Earlier this year, the FDA expressed the view that the message was what was important, not the medium, meaning that companies should simply apply the rules governing prescription drug advertising in print media to the internet. On April 2, 2009 the agency issued Notice of Violation letters to 14 companies who sponsored links on internet search engines advertising their products; the links gave the name of the drug and, in some cases, its indicated use, without including the required “fair balance,” i.e., safety information such as contraindications and potential side effects. In reliance on the so-called “one-click rule” — which had never actually been adopted by the FDA — the companies had put the required safety information one click away on a separate page.
In recent months, the FDA has indicated that it is open to providing internet-specific marketing guidance. Yesterday and today (November 13th) the agency is holding a hearing on “Promotion of FDA–Regulated Medical Products Using the Internet and Social Media Tools.” Representatives from advertising agencies, consumer groups, health-related websites, pharmaceutical companies, and search engines are scheduled to testify.
In written testimony released before the hearing, PhRMA, the pharmaceutical industry’s trade group, proposed that the FDA approve a standard universal warning: PhRMA suggests “All drugs have risks. Click here for more information from the manufacturer.” — for use “in places throughout the Web where there is not enough room for complete disclosure of all warnings, indications, and contraindications (e.g., search results and microblog posts.)” Such a warning would, PhRMA argues, allow companies to take advantage of sponsored links, make full use of Twitter, etcetera, while also providing easy access to safety information. PhRMA even suggests that the warning incorporate the FDA’s logo, arguing that this could mitigate against “the dangers posed by illegal Internet drug sellers.”
It will be interesting to see whether and how the proposals of the other groups represented at the hearing differ from PhRMA’s, and, of course, whether the FDA in the end decides that its “fair balance” requirements should be modified for the web. Among the other interesting issues FDA may address is companies’ responsibility for web content they do not control. Google’s introduction of Sidewiki, which allows anyone visiting a pharmaceutical company’s website to leave a comment, has brought this issue to the fore, raising, for example, the prospect of doctors discussing a product’s off-label uses on the manufacturer’s site.
Anyone who wishes to comment on these or other internet-specific promotion issues may do so through February 28, 2010.
Challenging the school-to-prison pipeline November 9, 2009
Posted by equaljusticeworks in Equal Justice Works, Fellows.Tags: Cary Brege, Legal Aid North Carolina, public school discipline, school prison pipeline
add a comment
Equal Justice Works Fellow Cary Brege, an attorney at Legal Aid of North Carolina, is investigating suspension rates and challenging the school-to-prison pipeline.
She recently helped one client – an eigth-grade student named Marcus Renkel – challenge his school and appeal suspension after he was disciplined for reporting a bomb threat he saw scrawled in a school restroom. Read more about Marcus’ case here.
Cary is an advocate for better discipline in schools. She recently co-authored an op-ed calling on Wake County’s school board to make some changes. Read the full article here and see the excerpt below.
Misbehavior results from a complex convergence of factors, some of which schools can’t control. Parents and communities must step up in an effort to alleviate the pipeline – as we’ve all heard, “It takes a village.” However, schools must also be part of the solution, rather than part of the problem…
…Other school districts and communities across the nation have pioneered successful ways to address the problem, while keeping schools safe and improving outcomes…[the] school board should follow suit by getting feedback from the community; emphasizing positive behavior management strategies; expanding services for the most at-risk students; creating alternatives to suspensions for minor infractions; eliminating “zero tolerance” punishments; ensuring the disciplinary process is fair and accurate; and creating more high-quality alternative education programs.
-Aaron
Renewing commitments to public interest law November 3, 2009
Posted by equaljusticeworks in Equal Justice Works, legal services.Tags: legal services budget, National Law Journal, public interest law
add a comment
On Thursday night, more than 800 attorneys and public interest allies joined Equal Justice Works in Washington, DC, for its annual Awards Dinner to celebrate the achievements of the past year. Thought it has been an incredible challenge, Equal Justice Works Fellows have stepped up as legal services organizations face increased demand despite shrinking budgets and fewer resources. The video above highlights some of the ways the Fellows, their sponsors and organizations have risen to the challenge.
During the event, Equal Justice Works board member Carol Petren asked everyone in attendance to join her in renewing their commitment to justice and making a pact to continue supporting the attorneys working to protect their clients and helping them to recover from the economic crisis.
Read more about the evening on the National Law Journal’s Blog of Legal Times.
-Aaron
