Description of the Clinic

The Social Enterprise & Nonprofit Law Clinic at Georgetown University Law Center offers pro bono corporate and transactional legal services to social enterprises, nonprofit organizations, worker cooperatives, and select small businesses headquartered in Washington, D.C. and working locally or internationally. Through the Clinic, law students learn to translate legal theory into legal practice by engaging in the supervised practice of law for educational credit. The Clinic’s goals are consistent with Georgetown University’s long tradition of public service. The Clinic’s goals are to:

• Teach law students the materials, expectations, strategies, and methods of transactional lawyering, as well as an appreciation for how transactional law can be used in the public
• Represent organizations in corporate and transactional legal matters.
• Facilitate the growth of social enterprise in the D.C.

The Clinic’s local focus not only allows the Clinic to work within the community it calls home, but also gives students an opportunity to explore and understand the challenges and strengths of the D.C. community beyond the Georgetown Law campus. As D.C. experiences increasing income inequality, it is increasingly important for the Clinic to provide legal assistance to organizations that serve and empower vulnerable D.C. communities and fight for economic justice in the region. Students are taught how to become partners in enterprise for their clients with the understanding that innovative transactional lawyers understand both the legal and non-legal incentive structures that drive organizations.

Description of Fellowship

The two-year fellowship is an ideal position for a transactional lawyer interested in transitioning into legal academia and developing teaching and supervisory abilities in a setting that emphasizes a dual commitment—clinical education of law students and transactional law employed in the public interest. The fellow will have several areas of responsibility, with an increasing role as the fellowship progresses. Over the course of the fellowship, the fellow will: (i) supervise students in representing nonprofit organizations and social enterprises on transactional, operational, and corporate governance matters, (ii) share responsibility for teaching seminar sessions, and (iii) share in the administrative and case handling responsibilities of the Clinic. Fellows also participate in a clinical pedagogy seminar and other activities designed to support an interest in clinical teaching and legal education. Successful completion of the fellowship results in the award of an L.L.M. in Advocacy from Georgetown University. The fellowship start date is August 1, 2023, and the fellowship is for two years, ending July 31, 2025.

Teaching fellows receive an annual stipend of approximately $70,000 in the first year and $75,000 in the second year, health and dental benefits, and all tuition and fees in the L.L.M. program. As full-time students, teaching fellows qualify for deferment of their student loans. In addition, teaching fellows may be eligible for loan repayment assistance from their law schools.

Qualifications

Applicants must have at least 3 years of post J.D. legal experience. Preference will be given to applicants with experience in a transactional area of practice such as nonprofit law and tax, community economic development law, corporate law, intellectual property, real estate, and finance. Applicants with a strong commitment to economic justice are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be admitted or willing to be admitted to the District of Columbia Bar.

Application Process

Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis. To apply, send a resume, an official or unofficial law school transcript, and a detailed letter of interest as soon as possible but no later than March 31, 2023. The letter should be no longer than two pages and address a) why you are interested in this fellowship; b) what you can contribute to the Clinic; c) your experience with nonprofit law, community economic development, transactional matters, or corporate law; d) your diversity statement, and e) anything else that you consider pertinent. Please address your application to Professor Alicia Plerhoples, Georgetown Law, 600 New Jersey Ave., NW, Suite 352, Washington, D.C. 20001, and email it to Clinic Office Manager, Anna Harty, at lawsocialenterprise@georgetown.edu. Emailed applications are preferred.