Public Health Law Positions

The Visiting Attorney, Public Health Law Practice position is a post-J.D. experience designed to develop skills and competencies in practice-based public health law that will advance participating attorneys’ public health law careers and prepare them for employment within local, state, federal or tribal public health organizations.

Description
The National Coordinating Center of the Network for Public Health Law at William Mitchell College of Law will choose five applicants to hold a full-time, one-year appointment in one of five host sites, with funding provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation:

• American Public Health Association, Partnership for Public Health Law, Washington, D.C., Supervising Mentor: John Bloom, J.D., Director
• Mid-States Region, Network for Public Health Law, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, Supervising Mentor: Denise Chrysler, J.D., Director
• Public Health Law Center, William Mitchell College of Law, St. Paul, MN, Supervising Mentor: Doug Blanke, J.D., Director
• Public Health Law & Policy, Oakland, CA, Supervising Mentor: Linda Merola, J.D., Senior Staff Attorney
• Western Region, Network for Public Health Law, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, Supervising Mentor: James G. Hodge Jr., J.D., L.L.M., Director

Note: Applicants should not contact these sites directly. All inquiries should be e-mailed to fellowships@networkforphl.org. Please read the Frequently Asked Questions prior to inquiry.

The visiting attorneys will work as staff attorneys at the host site, participating in site activities and providing legal technical assistance to public health agencies, researchers and other requestors. The recipients will work under the supervision of a senior mentor, interact and learn with a cohort through in-person and virtual monthly meetings, and attend the National Public Health Law Conference in October. The visiting attorneys will be expected to complete a special in-depth project, and will be given opportunities and guidance to complete core competency experiences for successful public health law practice. Some travel to national and regional meetings will be required.

The program builds upon the National Coordinating Center of the Network and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s public health law initiative and the strengths of the host sites, offering recipients networks of public health agency leaders and counsel. Broad exposure to current legal issues faced by public health agencies and opportunities to research these issues and develop practical guidance provides a rich milieu in which to hone legal skills relevant for a career in public health law.

Stipend and Benefits
The recipients will receive a salary in the range of $50,000 - $60,000 plus benefits, including health coverage. This salary may be adjusted slightly, depending on post J.D. or other experience and host site location, taking into consideration federal geographic pay grade differentials.

Eligibility
Applicants must hold a J.D. or equivalent degree in law (or receive one by June 30, 2012). Preference will be given to applicants with 1-2 years experience in law or public health (acquired while on the job, in school or a combination) and an M.P.H. or equivalent public health degree or experience. Applicants must be a licensed member of the bar in a state or be registered to take the bar exam in July, 2012. They must be U.S. Citizens, U.S. Resident Non-Citizen Nationals, or Resident Foreign Nationals at the time of application. Host sites are equal opportunity employers.

Key Dates

• Online Application Open: March 8, 2012
• Letters of Reference: submitted by April 25, 2012
• Application Deadline:  May 1, 2012 – 3 p.m. ET
• Award Announcements: July 2, 2012
• Visiting Attorney, Public Health Law Practice Start Date: September 17, 2012

For application information, go directly to the position announcement.