Law Fellow

Agency

Department

PURPOSE

The Harte Research Institute (HRI) Marine Policy & Law program offers a Law Fellowship for early-career lawyers as a gateway to a career in natural resources law. The program offers the opportunity to work directly with national experts in coastal and marine science while focusing on law and policy. The Fellow will work directly for the Chair of Marine Policy & Law and will be encouraged to pursue research and writing on marine and coastal law topics that interest them with the idea of advancing their career.

Professional opportunities include legal and public policy research, writing, and collaboration across all substantive HRI program areas. The Fellow will also support a graduate seminar on marine policy and law.

DESCRIPTION

Functional Area 1: Research

Percent Effort: 50

• Research marine law issues on a topic of their choosing related to the Gulf ’s coastal and marine health to advance the goals of HRI

• Perform substantive research and analysis on coastal and marine issues to develop policy papers

• Work in coordination with HRI researchers to develop and implement projects and programs consistent with HRI's mission

• Conduct other legal research at the direction of the Chair

Functional Area 2: Writing

Percent Effort: 35

• Write an article for a peer-reviewed legal publication on a topic of their choosing.

•  Write policy papers

• Assist in development of grants and production of grant reports as needed

Functional Area 3: Outreach

Percent Effort: 15

• Present on legal topics at conferences and other public events to inform the public on issues related to HRI legal research

•  Attend conferences and other public events to develop relationships in the community

QUALIFICATIONS

• Doctor of Jurisprudence or equivalent degree (LLM) from an accredited law school. 

• Must take and pass a state bar exam within the first year of fellowship.

• You must demonstrate an interest in marine and coastal law by presenting evidence of educational or professional experience, which can include internships

• You must submit an original written work on a legal issue, unedited by others, not to exceed 10 pages, which can be an excerpt from a larger piece

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Fluency in Spanish preferred

• One to three years’ experience in research and writing specifically on natural research law issues.

SALARY: Up to $65,000/annually, approximately

• $5,416.67/monthly

BENEFITS (rules, policies, eligibility apply)

From our generous benefits package and professional development opportunities, to our retirement programs and our commitment to service excellence, the Island University is an engaging and rewarding place to work.

Insurance

• Medical

  • $0 - $30 per month for Employee Only coverage after university contribution ($920 value).

  • Up to 83% of premium covered by the university:

    • Employee and Spouse

    • Employee and Children

    • Employee and Family coverage

• Dental & Vision

• Life Insurance, Accidental D&D, Long Term Disability, Flexible Spending Account and Day Care Spending Account

On-campus wellness opportunities

Work Life Solutions:

• Counseling, Work Life Assistance, Financial Resources, and Legal Resources

Tuition Benefits:

• Public Loan Forgiveness

• Book scholarships

• 100% tuition coverage for up to 18 credit hours per fiscal year (other rules may apply).

Retirement

• Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) or Optional Retirement Plan (ORP)

• Voluntary Tax Deferred Account/Deferred Compensation Plan

Time Off:

• 8+ hours of vacation paid time off every month.

• 8 hours of sick leave time off every month.

• 8 hours of paid time off for Birthday leave.

• 12-15 paid holidays each year.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.