The Week That Will Be
Lawfare's weekly round-up of event announcements and employment opportunities.
Published by The Lawfare Institute
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Event Announcements (More details on the Events Calendar)
Monday, June 15, at 12:00 p.m.: The House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence held a hearing on the impact of COVID-19 in sub-Saharan Africa. The committee will hear testimony from Linda Thomas-Greenfield, a former assistant secretary of state for African affairs; Michelle Gavin, the former U.S. ambassador to Botswana; J. Stephen Morrison, the director of the Global Health Policy Center at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS); and Judd Devermont, the director of the Africa Program at CSIS.
Tuesday, June 16, at 12:00 p.m.: The House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Oversight, Management and Accountability will hold a hearing to examine how the Department of Homeland Security can resume operations safely. The subcommittee will hear testimony from Everett Kelly, the national president of the American Federation of Government Employees; Anthony Reardon, the national president of the National Treasury Employees Union; and Brandon Judd, the national president of the National Border Patrol Council.
Tuesday, June 16, 2020, at 12:00 p.m.: The House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel will hold a hearing on racial disparity in the military justice system. The subcommittee will hear testimony from Ret. Col. Don Christensen, the president of Protect Our Defenders; Brenda Farrell, the director of the Defense Capabilities and Management Team at the Government Accountability Office; and the judge advocates general of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps.
Tuesday, June 16, at 2:00 p.m.: The House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa and International Terrorism will hold a hearing on the strategic goals, risks and benefits of U.S. arms sales to the Gulf. The subcommittee will hear testimony from Andrew Exum, the former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Middle East policy; Ret. Lt. Col. Jodi Vittori, a nonresident scholar with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; and Bradley Bowman, the senior director of the Center on Military and Political Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
On Tuesday, June 16, at 2:30 p.m.: The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on police use of force and community relations. There will be two panels with eleven total witnesses, including Erin Nealy Cox, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, and Chief Art Acevedo, the chief of police for the city of Houston.
Wednesday, June 17, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. The Brookings Institution will hold a webinar on arms sales during COVID-19. Panelists include: David Wearing, Teaching Fellow in international relations at Royal Holloway University; Dennis Horak, former Canadian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia; Diana Ohlbaum, Legislative Director for foreign policy at Friends Committee on National Legislation; and Pieter Wezeman, senior researcher with the Arms and Military Expenditure Programme at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The panelists will join Noha Aboueldahab, foreign policy fellow at the Brookings Doha Center, to discuss the global arms industry during the COVID-19 pandemic and its implications for the national security policies of Western and Middle Eastern governments.
Thursday, June 18, at 9:30 a.m.: The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will hold a hearing on COVID-19 and U.S. international pandemic preparedness, prevention and response. The committee will hear testimony from James Richardson, the director of the State Department's office of foreign assistance.
Thursday, June 18, at 12:00 p.m.: The House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence will hold a hearing titled, "Emerging Trends in Online Foreign Influence Operations: Social Media, COVID-19, and Election Security." The committee has not yet released a witness list.
Thursday, June 18, 2020 1:00 p.m.: The Center for Strategic and International Studies will hold an online event discussing the effects of current economic disruption on U.S.-China relations. The event will feature remarks from Former U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky, senior international partner at WilmerHale and former U.S. trade representative, in conversation with Matthew P. Goldman, senior vice president for economics at CSIS; and Stephanie Segal, senior fellow for economics at CSIS.
Friday, June 19, at 3:00 p.m.: The Brookings Institution will hold a webinar on racial inequality and bias in artificial intelligence. Panelists Fay Cobb Payton, professor of information technology and business analytics at North Carolina State University; Rashawn Ray, David M. Rubenstein Fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution; and Dariely Rodriguez, director of the Economic Justice Project at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law will join Nicol Turner Lee, senior fellow in governance studies at the Center for Technology and Innovation, to discuss the interplay between systemic inequality, race, and AI. The conversation will specifically address equality and fairness in the development of artificial intelligence.
Employment Announcements (More details on the Job Board)
The following are job announcements of potential interest to Lawfare readers. If you have an announcement to add to the page, email us.
Lawfare is accepting applications for a new associate editor. If you’ve ever listened to our podcasts and read our articles and thought, “I want to be part of that team,” now is your chance.
This is a highly demanding job. The associate editor plays a pivotal role in the editorial process—ensuring that articles, documents, podcasts and myriad other things that go up on the site every day are up to Lawfare’s editorial standards--and you will assist with long-term research projects carried out by members of the Lawfare team. The position also provides great writing opportunities for the right person.
Lawfare is a growing, fast-paced, ever-changing organization. The ideal candidate thrives independently in such environments and wants to help shape our publication’s future.
The associate editor works at the direction of the managing editor to perform or assist with significant aspects of Lawfare's work, including:
- Reviewing submissions for possible publication on the Lawfare website;
- Soliciting submissions from contributors based on current developments and perceived gaps in Lawfare's coverage;
- Processing accepted submissions to prepare them for publication;
- Working with our podcast team to development new audio content and daily podcasts
- Contributing to long- and short-term research projects at the direction of the senior team;
- Ensuring final copyediting and posting of publications to the website;
- Maintaining the Lawfare publication schedule;
- Contributing as needed to Lawfare podcasts on topics of particular expertise or need;
- Managing the website, including rotating highlighted pieces, posting relevant documents and livestreams, and controlling quality, in coordination with web hosting team;
- Coordinating with book review editors and Lawfare staff to manage the workflow of book reviews;
- Scheduling and other administrative responsibilities;
- Assisting with fundraising and donor-required documentation, as needed;
- Managing and hiring Lawfare interns;
- Completing other duties as assigned by Lawfare management.
This role is an entry-level position, well-suited for recent college graduates or those with a year or two of work experience. Candidates will have a bachelor's degree, preferably in a field related to political science, government, journalism, or history. Interest in issues pertaining to national security is required, as are outstanding writing, analytical, and research skills, demonstrated through prior relevant research and other experiences. The ability to write clearly and with minimal supervision is particularly important, as are thorough knowledge of library and online research resources and the capacity to conduct independent research. Candidates must have excellent interpersonal, verbal and organizational skills as well as the ability to take initiative and work in a fast-paced environment.
Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. Benefits include health and dental care (with premiums fully paid by Lawfare), flexible hours, and 401(k) with Lawfare matching contribution.
Lawfare is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.
HOW TO APPLY: Please submit a note to applications@lawfareblog.com with the subject line [ASSOCIATE EDITOR APPLICATION: your name] that contains these two items (and only these two items) within a single document: (1) a resume that shows the experience and education requested above; and (2) a cover letter of no more than two pages that explains how you plan to apply your skills and experiences to Lawfare and includes at least two references, with email addresses, of people directly familiar with your work. We anticipate many applications; not following these instructions will result in your application not being considered.
The ICAP Staff Attorney 1 will bring to bear advanced legal skills and extensive litigation experience to drive ICAP' s complex litigation work, including with responsibilities (1) to pursue impact litigation in defense of constitutional rights and values and (2) to involve Georgetown Law students in such efforts. The ICAP Staff Attorney 1 will have duties that include, but are not limited to:
- Engage in legal research and fact gathering, as well as draw on legal research and fact gathering provided by students, research assistants, and other ICAP attorneys, to assist in crafting constitutional impact litigation strategies in close coordination with the lnstitute's Legal Director and Executive Director.
- Draw on extensive previous legal experience, will carefully draft, revise, and edit briefing materials to be filed in court pertaining to those cases; will assist in mooting the advocates presenting and arguing the cases; and may have opportunities to present and argue cases at the trial court and appellate level.
- Support ICAP's leadership in overseeing a practicum seminar designed to involve Georgetown Law students in understanding the nature of constitutional impact litigation and in contributing to ICAP's work.
- Responsible for conceptualizing and implementing litigation strategies and tactics in complex court cases, including cases involving multiple plaintiffs and defendants; class actions; cases involving a wide range of legal claims, potentially to include a mix of federal-law and state- law claims; and cases arising in federal courts as well as in state courts around the country.
The ICAP Staff Attorney 1 will be supervised by ICAP's Executive Director and Legal Director. The ICAP Staff Attorney 1 will work closely with ICAP's other attorneys engaged in factual development, legal research, writing, and case presentation in support of ICAP's litigation efforts. Additionally, the ICAP Staff Attorney 1 will, as circumstances dictate, interact with other Georgetown Law faculty supporting ICAP's work on particular cases and with students participating in the practicum seminar offered in connection with ICAP's work. In doing so, the ICAP Staff Attorney 1 will be critical to fulfilling ICAP's mission of harnessing the talent and expertise of Georgetown Law's faculty and students in contributing to strategically selected, complex constitutional litigation on cutting-edge issues and exposing the law school community to such work.
Qualifications
- Required are a B.A. and a J.D., and 2 years of experience.
- Preferred is experience as a federal court clerk, ideally to include at the district court level, as well as 2-5 years of experience in legal work after law school (including clerkship time), ideally in litigation
The ICAP Staff Attorney 2 will drive results in complex, fast-moving, high-impact litigation to defend key constitutional rights and values, as well as related legal rights. He or she will do so by employing diverse litigation experience as well as exceptional legal abilities. The ICAP Staff Attorney 2’s responsibilities will include (1) conceptualizing and effectuating high-impaction litigation in defense of constitutional rights and values and (2) ensuring that Georgetown Law students are meaningfully and materially integrated into those litigation efforts. In particular, the ICAP Staff Attorney 2 has duties that include, but are not limited to:
- Engage in factual development and legal research, and will draw on legal research provided by students, research assistants, and other ICAP attorneys to assist in conceiving of and then driving constitutional impact litigation strategies in close coordination with the Institute’s Legal Director and Executive Director. This will include determining when litigation represents a promising mechanism for pursuing the defense of constitutional rights, then conceptualizing how litigation might be used in such circumstances and exploring the possibilities of filing such a suit—to include the identification of, and outreach to, potential plaintiffs and partner organizations.
- Draw on high-level previous litigation and legal writing experience and the years of feedback received on it, will carefully draft, revise, and edit briefing materials to be filed in court pertaining to those cases, at times with ultimate responsibility for the filings themselves; will assist in mooting the oral advocates presenting and arguing the cases; and will present evidence and oral argument directly in courts, potentially at all levels of the state and federal court systems.
- Often assume the lead role in individual cases, subject to the supervision of the Legal Director and Executive Director.
- Closely support ICAP's leadership in overseeing a practicum seminar designed to involve Georgetown Law students in understanding the nature of constitutional impact litigation and in contributing to ICAP's work.
- Responsible for identifying opportunities for, then developing and acting on, litigation strategies and tactics in extremely complex court cases, including cases involving multiple plaintiffs and defendants; class actions; cases involving a wide range of legal claims, potentially to include a mix of federal-law and state- law claims; and cases arising in federal courts as well as in state courts around the country.
The ICAP Staff Attorney 2 will be supervised by ICAP's Executive Director and Legal Director. The ICAP Staff Attorney 2 will work closely with ICAP's other attorneys engaged in factual development and legal research and writing in support of ICAP's litigation efforts. Additionally, the ICAP Staff Attorney 2 will coordinate directly with ICAP’s co-counsel in litigation and, moreover, will interact with other Georgetown Law faculty supporting ICAP's work on particular cases and with students participating in the practicum seminar offered in connection with ICAP’s work. All told, the ICAP Staff Attorney 2 will be essential to fulfilling ICAP's mission of harnessing the talent and expertise of Georgetown Law's faculty and students in designing and effectuating strategically selected, complex constitutional litigation on cutting-edge issues and exposing the law school community, including students in the ICAP practicum, to such work in meaningful ways.
Qualifications
- Required are a B.A. and a J.D.
- Preferred is experience as a federal court clerk, ideally to include at the district court level, as well as 6-10 years of experience in legal work after law school (including clerkship time).
UnLocal, a community-centered nonprofit organization providing legal representation and community education to New York City’s undocumented immigrant communities, is seeking nominations and applications for the position of Executive Director.
UnLocal is committed to a community-centered, grassroots approach to protecting the rights and enhancing the lives of undocumented immigrants in New York City and providing legal representation to clients who are typically passed over by peer organizations. UnLocal’s model of addressing the needs of immigrants at a community level has promoted its rapid expansion to meet new levels of demand as local, state, and federal policies have been enacted that result in widespread violations of immigrants’ rights. In the past two years, UnLocal’s annual budget has nearly doubled from $700,000 to $1.3 million.
As it continues to build capacity through this period of growth, UnLocal seeks a leader who will steward a shared vision that is responsive to community needs and is driven by the passion and commitment of UnLocal’s team and Board members; who will build and cultivate relationships with all external stakeholders – including community leaders, funders, and partners; and who will lead operational and programmatic oversight across the organization. Succeeding UnLocal’s well-respected founder, Michele Lampach, the new leader will support UnLocal’s dedicated and talented team and direct the organization’s continued development to best serve New York’s immigrant communities. The ED will work closely with staff across the organization and at all levels to continue to foster UnLocal’s unique culture of creativity and collaboration and identify opportunities for increased support and development.
The ideal candidate will be an inclusive, passionate leader with a deep understanding of the tools and pathways for protecting the rights of and serving undocumented immigrants by delivering the highest quality legal and community education services. She/He/They will bring leadership experience in a legal and/or nonprofit setting and a deep focus on community centered advocacy. She/He/They will be adept at fundraising and skilled in developing new relationships and deepening existing relationships with funders. The new Executive Director will be a caring manager who excels at supporting, mentoring, and motivating staff; developing structures and processes that ensure services are customer and community centered; and supporting teams that work closely with individuals experiencing trauma. A deep connection to UnLocal’s mission to support and protect the rights of New York City’s undocumented immigrant communities is necessary, and lived experience and a personal connection to impacted communities is highly preferred.
Professional Staff Member/Security Officer, The House Committee on the Judiciary
Job Description:
The House Committee on the Judiciary seeks a Professional Staff Member/Security Officer. Responsibilities include participating in a wide range of oversight projects, assisting in preparation for Committee hearings and markups, providing research assistance, and managing access to the Committee’s secure facility. Ideal candidates should be highly detailed oriented, experience handling large volumes of information, and demonstrated ability to meet precise deadlines. An active security clearance is a plus. The Committee strives to ensure that our staff reflects the diversity of the country’s population; candidates from minority backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply. The Committee does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including marital or parental status, sexual orientation, and gender identity), disability, age, or national origin. To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to Job.JDEM@mail.house.gov. Please include in the subject line: PSM/Security Officer.
Attorney-Advisor, Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB)
Job Title: Attorney-Advisor
Agency: Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board
Salary Range: $99,172 – $156,000/ Per Year
Series/Grade: The agency uses the Administratively Determined system in which rank is attached to the individual. The salary range for this position is statutorily capped at $156,000.
Position Information: This is an opportunity for permanent employment in the excepted service. You will be required to serve a two-year trial period.
Duty Location: Washington, DC
Who May Apply: Open to the public. U.S. citizenship required.
Security Clearance: Must have or be able to obtain a TOP SECRET – Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS-SCI) Security clearance. If you already have a TS/SCI clearance, please highlight your last investigation date in your application.
Agency Mission
The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board’s responsibilities comprise two basic functions: oversight and advice. In its oversight role, the Board is authorized to continually review the implementation of executive branch policies, procedures, regulations, and information sharing practices relating to efforts to protect the nation from terrorism, in order to ensure that privacy and civil liberties are protected. The Board is also authorized to continually review any other actions of the executive branch relating to efforts to protect the nation from terrorism, in order to determine whether such actions appropriately protect privacy and civil liberties and whether they are consistent with governing laws, regulations, and policies regarding privacy and civil liberties. In its advice role, the Board is authorized to review proposed legislation, regulations, and policies related to efforts to protect the nation from terrorism (as well as the implementation of new and existing policies and legal authorities), in order to advise the President and executive branch agencies on ensuring that privacy and civil liberties are appropriately considered in their development and implementation.The primary purpose of this position is to perform duties as an Attorney-Advisor, working under general supervision in the form of broad policy and program guidance. Attorney-Advisors are expected to accomplish assigned functions on their own initiative, independently formulate requirements, responsibly allocate available resources, and develop, recommend, and monitor implementation of agency policies and procedures. Prior experience related to legal and policy issues implicating privacy, civil liberties, and/or counterterrorism or national security matters is strongly preferred.
Major Duties and Responsibilities
Serve as an attorney with limited supervision while gathering factual information, conducting legal and policy analysis, and providing legal expertise to the Board in complex investigations and/or reviews.
Prepare memoranda and make appropriate recommendations to the Board.
Respond in writing and orally to inquiries from Members of the Board regarding the status of investigations and/or reviews, research and analysis, and policy implications of existing and proposed programs and making recommendations to the Board.
Summarize reports received from the intelligence community and other agencies and extract essential information.
Assist the Board in reviewing and analyzing federal counterterrorism programs pursuant to its mission to ensure that both existing and proposed programs adequately safeguard privacy and civil liberties.
Advise and assist in the identification of issues and recommendations by providing policy advice, conducting research, and carrying out investigations, as required.
Analyze privacy and civil liberties-related issues, national security and counterterrorism programs and assist the Board in understanding how programs operate.
Assist in drafting Board reports evaluating efforts to protect the nation from terrorism and other Board reports to the President, Congress and the public, as well as drafting congressional testimony, letters, and other documents to carry out the Board’s responsibilities.
Represent the Board in interactions with officials from other departments and agencies of the Federal government, the private sector, and non-governmental organizations, as required.
Utilize superior oral and written communication skills, including the ability to produce clear, logical, and concise products that are targeted to and meet the needs of diverse audiences with different perspectives and objectives, while demonstrating analytical and critical thinking skills, including the ability to identify issues and to develop process improvements, and working effectively and collaboratively with team members and other agency employees.
Educational Requirements
Must possess a J.D. or LL.B. and be a member in good standing of a state bar or the District of Columbia bar.Application Process
Please send the following required documents to jobs@pclob.gov with the title “Attorney-Advisor”: Cover letter, resume, and writing sample (10 pages or less). If you are less than 3 years out of college or law school, please also include a transcript. All submitted materials must be at the UNCLASSIFIED level. If all the materials above are not received, your application will be evaluated solely on the information available and you may not receive full consideration or may not be considered eligible. Candidates selected for an interview may be asked to provide references and undergo a writing assessment.A candidate’s application may be considered for other eligible vacant positions at the agency. The candidate will be contacted if considered for another eligible vacant position.
Closing Date
A panel will convene to evaluate applications on a rolling basis until the position is filled. A review of your application will be made to determine whether you meet the job requirements. To determine if you are qualified for this job, your resume and supporting documentation will be evaluated. Candidates will be placed into categories of “best qualified”, “qualified”, and “not qualified”. If, after reviewing your resume and or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may be placed in a different category. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your categorization.No Travel Expenses for Interview
Candidates from outside the Washington, D.C., area may be selected for a telephone or in-person interview. If selected for an in-person interview, any travel or lodging will be at the applicant’s personal expense.Telework, Travel and Benefits
Telework may be made available per agency policy.If you use public transportation, part of your transportation costs may be subsidized. Our budget office can provide additional information on how this program is run.
A career with the U.S. Government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.