U.S. K&L Gates Public Interest Fellowship
Allegheny Conference on Community Development • Education Law Center • KidsVoice • Neighborhood Legal Services Association

The Pittsburgh Foundation and K&L Gates LLP are proud to offer the K&L Gates Public Interest Fellowship Program.  The fellowship was established in September 1999 to offer law students the opportunity to assist public service organizations located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  Each summer, the program awards up to three successful candidates a fellowship that enables them to spend four weeks of their summer working at one of four designated public interest organizations.

The Pittsburgh Foundation's K&L Gates Fund provides the funding for the fellowships.  K&L Gates established the fund in 1996 with the firm's $250,000 contribution to The Pittsburgh Foundation.  Allegheny Conference on Community Development, Education Law Center, KidsVoice and Neighborhood Legal Services have teamed with The Pittsburgh Foundation to offer placement opportunities to K&L Gates Fellows.

• Allegheny Conference on Community Development. Provides research, analysis, planning and development to improve the economy and quality of life in Southwestern Pennsylvania. 
• Education Law Center. Provides free legal assistance and advice to parents, advocates and other professionals on issues of public education.
• KidsVoice. Provides legal representation to abused, neglected and other at-risk children.
• Neighborhood Legal Services Association. Provides legal representation to poor and vulnerable residents of Western Pennsylvania who have financial, landlord-tenant, domestic violence or other legal problems.

Fellowship Stipend
In 2009, each recipient will be paid a stipend of $1,000/week (less applicable taxes).  All stipend checks will be made payable to the student and mailed to the organizations at which they will be working.  K&L Gates will pay a supplemental salary to any recipient who receives and accepts an offer to spend the remainder of the summer as a K&L Gates summer associate.  The supplemental salary and stipend will equal the weekly salary of K&L Gates' summer associates during the fellowship period.  K&L Gates fellows however, are not required to spend the rest of the summer with K&L Gates. 

Purpose of K&L Gates Public Interest Fellowship
K&L Gates is committed to affording all attorneys, including future attorneys, opportunities to provide pro bono legal services.  This Fellowship Program underscores K&L Gates' and the legal profession's commitment to public service.  Public interest fellowships serve as a unique vehicle by which K&L Gates may attract highly qualified summer associates to Pittsburgh to make significant legal service contributions and to gain substantial legal experience within a non-profit agency environment.  Fellowship recipients will find that a K&L Gates Fellowship will be an impressive credential that will be valued by future employers.

Application Process
To be considered for a fellowship award, candidates must complete and submit an application. Subject to the approval of the Board of Directors of The Pittsburgh Foundation, an Advisory Committee recommends the fellowship recipients based on academic merit, demonstrated commitment to public service, other information provided through the application process and interviews with finalist candidates. Family members of Advisory Committee members are not eligible for this fellowship. The Pittsburgh Foundation will notify chosen fellowship recipients of its decision.  All stipend checks will be made payable to the fellow and mailed to the public interest organization where they will be working.

To request a copy of the application materials, or to address any questions, please contact your career services/placement office or contact:

Jessica L. Gangjee
Manager of Legal Recruiting
K&L Gates LLP
Henry W. Oliver Building
535 Smithfield Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
(412) 355-6547

or

Deborah L. Turner
Scholarship Coordinator
The Pittsburgh Foundation
Five PPG Place, Suite 250
Pittsburgh, PA  15222-5414
(412) 394-2649

 

Allegheny Conference on Community Development

The following description was provided by the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, Suite 1100, Regional Enterprise Tower, 425 Sixth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219-1811, Telephone (412) 281-1890; Fax (412) 281-1896

BACKGROUND:

Founded in 1944, the Allegheny Conference on Community Development is one of the leading civic leadership organizations in the United States. Combining strong private sector leadership with public sector partners, it works to stimulate economic growth and improve the Pittsburgh region's quality of life.  Its strategic focus is on creating a more competitive business climate and marketing the Pittsburgh region for investment and job creation.  The Conference relies upon the Regional Investors Council - leaders of more than 300 companies and organizations - to provide time, talent and resources to advance its agenda.

Three affiliated organizations, each staffed by the Conference, provide research and analysis, advocacy and marketing to realize the vision of the Conference leadership.

• The Pennsylvania Economy League of Southwestern Pennsylvania, established in 1936, provides public policy research and analysis.
  
  
• The Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce, working with public and private sector partners, serves as the region's chief advocate at all levels of government to secure public sector investment and legislative and regulatory improvements to the region's business climate.
  
  
• The Pittsburgh Regional Alliance, a 10-county regional economic development partnership staffed by the Conference, markets southwestern Pennsylvania to companies across the region and around the world in order to attract capital investment and stimulate job creation.

PRIORITY OBJECTIVES:

The Conference has embarked upon a comprehensive strategy to improve southwestern Pennsylvania’s competitiveness and promote the region to the world. 

• Regional Promotion
  
  
  
  • Pittsburgh: Imagine What You Can Do Here – the region’s first integrated marketing campaign.  It lays the foundation for the region’s 250th anniversary and will continue beyond that milestone to celebrate the region’s many strengths.
  • Pittsburgh 250 – a wide ranging initiative to celebrate two-and-a-half centuries of innovation and achievement
    
    
• Economic Development – The Pittsburgh Regional Alliance markets the Pittsburgh region to business leaders around the world and shares information, insights and opportunities to advance economic development. 
  
  
• Competitiveness – The Conference convenes private sector leaders from across the region and across Pennsylvania to work together to improve our region’s competitiveness in the global marketplace through the following priorities:
  
  
  • Transportation and infrastructure improvements including competitive air service
  • Workforce quality and its relationship to high-quality pre-K through 12 education
  • Local government function and structure
  • Taxes and regulations

The Conference continues to market the region to sectors in which a competitive advantage has been built including life sciences, information technology and advanced materials.

PARTICIPATION IN K&L GATES’ FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM:

We are pleased to be participating in the K&L Gates Fellowship program.   A K&L Gates' Fellow will become part of a team, staffing a project in process analogous to the above initiatives.  The student will be given one or more specific assignments to be completed within the timeframe of the Fellowship.  The assignment(s) will address one or more critical issues necessary to move the Conference agenda forward.  The student will report to a senior executive who will assess performance and provide feedback to the student.

To succeed in the project, the student will need to interact with project staff at the Conference as well as other organizations and community private and public leaders.

Inquiries may be directed to Human Resources at 412-281-4783 ext. 2029 or dlukus@alleghenyconference.org.

 

Education Law Center

The following description was provided by the Education Law Center - PA, 429 Fourth Avenue, Suite 1901, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, Telephone (412) 258-2120.

The Education Law Center – PA (ELC) is a non-profit, public interest law firm with offices in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia that advocates for equity and quality in public education in Pennsylvania.  For over thirty (30) years, ELC has focused on the needs of children most at risk for school failure, including children who are poor, children in the foster care and juvenile justice systems, English-language learners, and children with disabilities.  ELC is committed to ensuring that all students in Pennsylvania have access to a quality public education, free from discrimination and with an equal opportunity to learn.

ELC uses multiple strategies to reform public education including litigation, administrative advocacy, legislative reform and community organization and education.  ELC maintains a web page (www.elc-pa.org ), publishes extensive written materials for parents, advocates, attorneys and other professionals, and provides formal representation at administrative hearings and in state and federal courts.

The K&L Gates Public Interest Fellow will be assigned to a staff attorney who will train and supervise all assignments and who will provide individualized support and guidance as needed.  The Fellow will meet regularly with his or her supervising attorney and will have the opportunity to meet weekly with other summer associates and to interact with attorneys from our other offices on state-wide projects.

This Fellowship will provide the student with the unique opportunity to learn specifically about the substantive law in the area of education, while simultaneously working closely with our attorneys on all aspects of our work, including client interviews, fact investigation, legal research, writing, and assistance with administrative and court proceedings.  Our goal is to provide the Fellow with an experience that encourages the development of sound legal skills, ethics, and the ability to work collaboratively with clients, attorneys, and other professionals.

For further information, students should contact Nancy A. Hubley, Managing Attorney, Education Law Center – PA, 429 Fourth Avenue, Suite 1901, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 (412) 391-5225 or by e-mail at . 

 

KidsVoice

The following description was provided by KidsVoice, Frick Building, 437 Grant Street, Suite 700, Pittsburgh, PA 15219; Telephone (412) 391-3100; Fax (412) 391-3588.

KidsVoice, a 501(c)(3) organization, provides legal representation to 5,000 abused, neglected and at-risk children each year.  Law students in our summer program have the opportunity to advocate for the safety and well-being of children.  Students admitted to participate under the Pennsylvania student practice rule may have an opportunity to appear in court on behalf of child-clients.

Our cases primarily involve the representation of children in child abuse and neglect proceedings involving the Allegheny County Office of Children, Youth and Family Services.  Pennsylvania law requires that children in these cases be represented by an attorney.

The core of our summer program is the successful training and supervision of our students, each of whom is teamed with one of our staff attorneys.  This team model ensures that each student receives the necessary resources and support to conduct the quality investigation needed to render appropriate recommendations regarding what placement and services will best provide the stability and permanence each child deserves.

To achieve this, KidsVoice utilizes a unique, multi-disciplinary team approach.  Our staff of over twenty attorneys team with in-house child advocacy specialists who are experts in social work, mental health, child development, case management, domestic violence and/or substance abuse.  This multi-disciplinary approach represents a new model of advocacy that permits KidsVoice to take full account of the child's needs and provide comprehensive advocacy in the most effective and efficient manner.  Students are also teamed with these child advocacy specialists who can assist with understanding each child's developmental needs and the placement and service options available in specific cases.

Students may also have the opportunity to impact children through our work on appellate cases. 
We are pleased to provide law students with an exciting hands-on experience and the unique opportunity to make a difference by representing and advocating for abused and neglected children.

Additional information regarding KidsVoice may be found at http://www.kidsvoice.org.

 

Neighborhood Legal Services Association

The following is a description provided by the Neighborhood Legal Services Association, Central Office, Allegheny County, 928 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3799; Telephone (412) 255-6700; Fax (412) 355-0168.

Neighborhood Legal Services Association (NLSA) is a non-profit organization that has been serving the civil legal needs of poor and vulnerable residents of Allegheny, Butler, Beaver, and Lawrence Counties for over 35 years.  With 18 attorneys and a support staff of 22, the Pittsburgh office provides legal advice through its Helpline, assistance with family and debt matters at its two evening clinics, help for the elderly through its Elder Law Program, and full representation in a variety of areas.  NLSA also refers out hundreds of cases to pro bono attorneys each year.

K&L Gates Public Interest Fellows assigned to NLSA will assist us in the work we do in a variety of ways.  They will participate in a summer District Justice project in which they will help prepare clients facing Landlord Tenant hearings.  If the student is certified, he or she may represent the client at the hearing.  The students will also assist at the evening clinics and accompany the Elder Law attorneys to Senior Centers.  They may be asked to follow-up on the Senior Center interviews.  Finally, students will work on the Helpline and will be involved in a "Sidebar Project," developing and implementing an outreach program to help tenants.  Our goal is to provide the Fellows, along with our other summer interns, as broad an experience in poverty law as possible.
The educational aspects of the program include a weekly one to two hour seminar in which the summer interns share the experiences of the week and, under the supervision of one of our managing attorneys, discuss and analyze issues they have faced during the week.  Throughout the summer there are also occasional "Lunch and Learn" meetings featuring speakers on a variety of both legal and non-legal topics.

At all times Fellows will be trained and supervised by staff attorneys at NLSA.  This training will include skills in interviewing, counseling, fact gathering, drafting, witness preparation, case analysis and litigation skills.  The Fellows will thus learn about poverty law issues, important lawyering skills, ethics, and professional conduct by working side by side with attorneys who have dedicated their professional careers to serving others.

For more information call Attorney Catherine T. Martin at 412.586.6118.

Additional information regarding the Neighborhood Legal Services Association may be found at  http://www.nlsa.us.