American Civil Liberties Union Of Arkansas (2 positions)
The American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas is a private, nonprofit membership organization, founded in 1969 to preserve America’s original civic values enshrined in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The ACLU of Arkansas is an affiliate to the national ACLU, and both organizations challenge governmental action that poses a threat to the civil liberties or civil rights of a group of persons. These liberties include, among others, free speech, religious freedom, racial and ethnic justice, due process, privacy, LGBT rights, reproductive freedom, voting rights, and students’ rights. The ACLU works in the courts, legislatures, and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States. For more information about the ACLU of Arkansas, see its website at www.acluarkansas.org.
An extern for the ACLU of Arkansas will: (1) assist with intake of requests for assistance; (2) conduct research and write issue papers; and (3) work with the Staff Attorney to address a variety of civil rights issues, both formally and informally. During the legislative session, an extern also will have the opportunity to research proposed legislation and develop information to be used for legislative committee hearings. The ACLU of Arkansas will interview students recommended for an externship prior to final approval of the placement.
Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families (1 position)
Arkansas Advocates for Children & Families (AACF) is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 1977 to ensure that all children and their families have the resources and opportunities to lead healthy and productive lives and to realize their full potential. AACF has provided the leadership, research, and advocacy to promote systemic reforms that have improved the lives of Arkansas children. Over the years, AACF’s work has led to policy improvements for children including: the creation of ARKids First (state-funded health care for children in families up to 200% of poverty); requiring schools to participate in the school breakfast program; the expansion of quality pre-school for at-risk three and four-year-old children; and an increase in the state minimum wage to $6.25 an hour. The job of AACF is to speak for the children who do not have a voice when public policy is made. AACF provides sound data-driven research to support better public policies and programs to serve these children. By working with national organizations and building grassroots coalitions throughout the state, AACF is able to: identify problems with current programs and policies; build public support; and work with state officials and agencies to develop long-term solutions for systemic change. For more information on AACF, see www.aradvocates.org.
An extern for AACF will: (1) assist with monitoring legislation proposed during the sessions of the Arkansas General Assembly that would impact children and families; (2) conduct research and write issue papers, and (3) assist with creating and informing coalitions to build support for issues. AACF will interview prospective externs recommended for placement in its office prior to final approval of the placement.
Arkansas Children’s Hospital, General Counsel’s Office (1 position)
Arkansas Children’s Hospital is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, free standing pediatric hospital located in Little Rock, Arkansas. Arkansas Children’s Hospital is the only pediatric medical center in the state of Arkansas and one of the largest in the United States, serving children from birth to age 21, as well as some adults, e.g. burn patients from every county in Arkansas and many nearby states. The campus spans 29 city blocks and houses 370 beds, a staff of approximately 500 physicians, 90 residents in pediatrics and pediatric specialties, and more than 4,200 employees. The facility boasts an internationally renowned reputation for medical breakthroughs and intensive treatments, unique surgical procedures and forward-thinking medical research – all dedicated to fulfilling our mission of enhancing, sustaining, and restoring children’s health and development.
Arkansas Children’s Hospital is academically affiliated with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). The Department of Pediatrics of UAMS is physically located on the hospital’s campus. Arkansas Children’s Hospital also serves as the primary teaching facility for the pediatric component of several UAMS programs including surgery, anesthesiology, orthopedic surgery, radiology, ophthalmology, and many others. The hospital’s service area includes the entire state of Arkansas, as well as bordering states.
An extern for Arkansas Children’s Hospital will work directly with the General Counsel on legal issues affecting the hospital, its clinics, foundation, and research institute. The extern will: (1) assist with requests by ACH constituents for legal assistance; (2) conduct legal research, analyze, and write memoranda of law; and (3) depending on the extern’s schedule, attend meetings with the General Counsel. Externs applying for this position should possess an interest in health law and strong research and writing skills. The General Counsel will interview students recommended for an externship prior to final approval of the placement.
Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance (1 position)
The Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance is the umbrella organization for the six Feeding America food banks, over 200 food pantries, and other agencies in all 75 counties in Arkansas. Its mission is to alleviate hunger through food sourcing and distribution, education, and advocacy. It partners with other nonprofits on a range of connected issues, from obesity to school health, farm to school programs, and solid waste disposal. The Alliance is the lead agency partner for the No Kid Hungry Campaign (to end childhood hunger), working with the Governor’s Office, the Department of Human Services, and the Department of Education. For more information about the Alliance, see www.arhungeralliance.org.
As advocates, the Alliance promotes the use of current resources and the promulgation of good public policy to facilitate the use of those resources. SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is one USDA program the Alliance supports. Currently, the Alliance is undertaking projects related to assisting low-income families, including seniors, in accessing SNAP. An extern working for the Alliance will conduct both legal and field research to determine what the policy barriers are, assist in the Alliance’s advocacy efforts, attend hearings of legislative committees and meetings with other nonprofit partners, recommend legislative and/or policy changes and perform additional duties as needed. The Alliance staff will interview students recommended for an externship prior to final approval of the placement.
Arkansas School Boards Association (1 position)
The Arkansas School Boards Association (ASBA) is a private, nonprofit, membership organization that provides leadership, training, advocacy, and specialized services to school boards throughout Arkansas. Membership in ASBA is open to school district boards, charter schools, and educational service co-operatives. ASBA’s mission is “championing excellence in public education through training, advocacy, and service for local school boards.” For more information about ASBA, see its website at www.arsba.org.
ASBA’s daily operations are carried out by an Executive Director and the ASBA staff, which includes a general counsel and a staff attorney. The general counsel advises the ASBA Board and can be hired by school boards for litigation purposes. The staff attorney provides legal consultation to member school boards and answers their questions about school laws and related matters. The staff attorney provides advice on matters such as appointing members to local school boards, disciplinary processes for employees, school operation, sexual misconduct investigation and documentation, millage elections, and Freedom of Information Act issues. ASBA’s legal team also conducts training seminars for school board members, attorneys, and administrators. ASBA also has a legislative team that is active during sessions of the Arkansas General Assembly, as well as when lawmakers are not in session. Members of the ASBA legislative team testify before legislative committees about education issues and develop information to share about proposed legislation.
An extern with the ASBA will work with its general counsel and staff attorney, assisting them in performing legal research and providing legal consultation to member school boards. During the legislative session, an extern also will have the opportunity to research proposed legislation and attend and observe legislative committee hearings. Applicants for this externship should have an interest in school law and issues related to public education. While not required, it would be helpful for students to have completed the course in Constitutional Law prior to this externship. The ASBA staff will interview students recommended for an externship prior to final approval of the placement.
Catholic Immigration Services Little Rock (1 Position)
Catholic Immigration Services Little Rock (CISLR) is a program department of Catholic Charities of Arkansas, Diocese of Little Rock. It is housed within the McDonald Center, a building on the St. John’s Center campus of the diocesan headquarters. CISLR is recognized by the Department of Justice Board of Immigration Appeals as a nonprofit entity qualified to provide immigration legal services to the low-income population. Further, immigration specialists functioning within the office are partially accredited individually by the Board of Immigration Appeals to provide legal services to applicants seeking immigration legal services. These partially accredited representatives offer counseling and form application services, but do not represent clients before courts or boards.  CISLR provides services involving family immigration laws, religions visas, visa processing under the Department of Justice Legal Assistance to Victims Program (domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and dating violence), and human trafficking.
The mission of Catholic Immigration Services is to work for solidarity in its community by welcoming the stranger in the spirit of the Gospel. It recognizes the inalienable right of all persons to human dignity. It therefore assists and advocates for immigrants to attain family unity, economic independence, and social integration. For more information about CISLR, see www.dolr.org/offices/catholiccharities/immigration.php.
Externs participating in the program with CISLR will have a range of duties, including: conducting intake consultations with clients; participating in case review; conducting client follow-up and setting appointments; researching legal and factual issues; acting as interpreters and translating documents; preparing briefs; and attending meetings. Externs will be supervised directly by a certified representative. Additionally, externs will participate in preliminary training by experienced staff to provide orientation, and in professional development webinars conducted during working hours to develop expertise in immigration law.
Due to the specific nature of CISLR’s work, two prerequisites exist for this externship. First, a successful applicant will possess fluency in both written and spoken Spanish. Second, a successful applicant must have taken and passed the Immigration Law elective course offered by the Bowen School of Law, or possess a commensurate level of experience in the practice of immigration law from some other source.
Finally, because externs will be in contact with clients, including children, externs will be required to complete the Diocese of Little Rock Virtus course. This three hour training provides sensitivity to issues surrounding interaction with minors. Further, each extern will be asked to complete diocesan application forms, which include consent to criminal and child-abuse registry background checks.
Center For Arkansas Legal Services (1 position)
The Center for Arkansas Legal Services (CALS) is a nonprofit organization that provides legal services to low-income Arkansans in civil cases. CALS focuses on matters involving family law, housing law (landlord-tenant), domestic relations, consumer law, and public benefits law. The attorneys and advocates at CALS assist clients depending on each client’s unique situation. For more information about CALS, see its website at www.arlegalservices.org.
An extern at CALS will work directly with the attorneys in the office, assisting them in drafting pleadings, performing legal research, interviewing clients, investigating cases, and preparing for trials. An extern also will have the opportunity to attend and observe courtroom proceedings. Strong research ability, people skills, initiative, and a commitment to equal access to justice are required. The staff of CALS will interview students recommended for an externship prior to final approval of the placement.
Medical Legal Partnership Of Legal Aid Of Arkansas And Arkansas Children’s Hospital (1 position)
Medical-Legal Partnership (MLP) attorneys work with the medical staff at Arkansas Children’s Hospital to support the health and well-being of patient families. The MLP’s most common matters are caregiver status (powers of attorney, guardianships, or adoption), Social Security, Medicaid, income maintenance (public benefits including unemployment), special education, family law, wills, and housing.
Externs with MLP will complete intakes with clients, draft advice letters, investigate and gather information, and conduct legal research. Externs will be supervised by MLP attorneys who specialize in the subject-matter area in which the extern is working. Depending on the interests of the externs, they could take the lead on holding a legal clinic for patient-families towards the end of their externships. MLP would be pleased to work with students who have some medical background, but it is not essential for this position. MLP attorneys will interview students recommended for an externship prior to final approval of the placement.
