U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Division, Torts BranchVolunteer/Unpaid Interns, Fall 2011
Office of Constitutional and Specialized Torts
Office of Vaccine Litigation
Washington, DC
About the Office: The Vaccine Litigation Group represents the interests of the Secretary of Health and Human Services in all cases filed in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act. The cases involve claims of injury as a result of the receipt of certain vaccines.
Responsibilities and Opportunity Offered: The Vaccine Litigation Group is currently seeking undergraduate students for a limited number of Fall 2011 volunteer (unpaid) internships.
This is an ideal opportunity for someone with a science background or interest in medicine who wants to explore a career in the law and gain practical experience prior to law school. The Civil Division is the largest litigating component in the Department of Justice, representing over one hundred federal agencies in complex civil litigation
This specific position is within the Office of Vaccine Litigation within the Constitutional and Specialized Torts section of the Torts Branch. The successful candidate will be responsible for performing factual, legal, and medical research in assigned cases; analyzing and evaluating scientific and medical information, including medical records and literature, and preparing draft memoranda; drafting pleadings, motions, and briefs; communicating with medical experts; organizing and writing synopses for use by attorneys; drafting correspondence; verifying citations and legal references on prepared legal documents; providing assistance in preparation for hearings; monitoring cases, and performing other duties as assigned.
More information about the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program can be found at http://www.hrsa.gov/vaccinecompensation/. Interns should be able to provide approximately 12-16 hours of service a week for a period of at least 12 weeks.
Qualifications: Applicants must be either incoming juniors or seniors. The office is particularly interested in candidates with science backgrounds and coursework, although a science background is not required. Strong work ethic. Research and analytical ability. Computer literate. Excellent written and oral communication skills. Previous legal experience a plus. U.S. citizenship is required.
Salary: The positions are unpaid.
Location: Convenient downtown location in Washington, DC, walking distance to several metro stations, restaurants, and retail.
Application Process and Deadline Date: Application materials must be postmarked by the deadline date of August 3, 2011. Please reference Vacancy Announcement #2-VIN-F11 in the cover letter. Applicants should send a cover letter, resume, and writing sample, preferably by e-mail, to:
Chrysovalantis P. Kefalas, Esq.
Co-Director, Law Clerk Program/
Trial Attorney
Office of Vaccine Litigation
Torts Branch, Civil Division
U.S. Department of Justice
P.O. Box 146
Washington, D.C. 20044
Chrysovalantis.Kefalas@usdoj.gov
Any e-mail attachments should be sent as .pdf files. No telephone calls please.
Department Policies: The U.S. Department of Justice is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Except where otherwise provided by law, there will be no discrimination because of color, race, religion, national origin, politics, marital status, disability, age, sex, sexual orientation, status as a parent, membership or non-membership in an employee organization, or on the basis of personal favoritism. The Department of Justice welcomes and encourages applications from persons with physical and mental disabilities. The Department is firmly committed to satisfying its affirmative obligations under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, to ensure that persons with disabilities have every opportunity to be hired and advanced on the basis of merit within the Department of Justice. This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
It is the policy of the Department to achieve a drug-free workplace and persons selected for employment will be required to pass a drug test which screens for illegal drug use prior to final appointment. Employment is also contingent upon the completion and satisfactory adjudication of a background investigation. Only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review and the United States Attorneys’ Offices. Unless otherwise indicated in a particular job advertisement, non-U.S. Citizens may apply for employment with other organizations, but should be advised that appointments of non-U.S. Citizens are extremely rare; such appointments would be possible only if necessary to accomplish the Department’s mission and would be subject to strict security requirements. Applicants who hold dual citizenship in the U.S. and another country will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
There is no formal rating system for applying veterans’ preference to appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Justice considers veterans’ preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans’ preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., the DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and other supporting documentation) to their submissions. Although the “point” system is not used, per se, applicants eligible to claim 10-point preference must submit Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, and submit the supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed (visit the OPM website, http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdfimage/sf0015.pdf for a copy of SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preferences and the required supporting documents). Applicants should note that SF 15 requires supporting documentation associated with service-connected disabilities or receipt of nonservice-connected disability pensions to be dated within the last 12 months except in the case of service members submitting official statements or retirement orders from a branch of the Armed Forces showing that his or her retirement was due to a permanent service-connected disability or that he/she was transferred to the permanent disability retired list (the statement or retirement orders must indicate that the disability is 10% or more).
The Department of Justice cannot control further dissemination and/or posting of information contained in this vacancy announcement. Such posting and/or dissemination is not an endorsement by the Department of the organization or group disseminating and/or posting the information.
Best regards,
Chrys Kefalas
Chrysovalantis P. Kefalas | Trial Attorney
United States Department of Justice
Torts Branch, Civil Division
Benjamin Franklin Station | P.O. Box 146 | Washington, DC 20044-0146
T: 202.616.9197| F: 202.616.4310 | chrysovalantis.kefalas@usdoj.gov
For overnight deliveries: 1425 New York Avenue, NW | Room 3144 | Washington DC 20005
Obama for America
Who: Dedicated and politically oriented individuals seeking to make a difference in their community.
What: Obama for America Fall Fellows Program
When: Early September to Early December
http://my.barackobama.com/Fall-Fellows
This fall, Obama for America is looking for students, recent graduates, and anyone else who believes in the power of community organizing, to help lead our grassroots movement. The OFA Fall Fellows Program will work directly with communities and volunteer leaders to recruit, train and mobilize volunteers to reelect the President in 2012.
Fall Fellows, who may work part-time (15 hrs/week) or full-time (40 hrs/week), will focus on building teams of volunteers and coordinating outreach activities for potential volunteers in communities and on campuses. Fall Fellows attending school may build teams of students on their campuses.
Fall Fellows who complete the program will leave with a full understanding of the tools, tactics, and language that organizers use to make change in their communities and elect candidates they believe in. Candidates for the Fall Fellows program must be enthusiastic about helping to re-elect President Obama and willing to commit a portion of their week to the reelection effort.
Please pass the following link on to all individuals and interested parties regarding this program. The application process must be completed by August 11th, 2011. Obama for America thanks you for your support.
http://my.barackobama.com/Fall-Fellows
Riley Kilburg
Obama for America
(563) 542-6821 | cell
rkilburg@barackobama.com
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