Description
The Wikimedia Foundation, the non-profit organization that runs Wikipedia and other free knowledge projects, is looking for a recent law school graduate for a one-year fellowship in intellectual property and internet law issues.
Job description
The Wikimedia Foundation faces a variety of intellectual property and internet law issues, ranging from complex copyright questions to international freedom of speech issues to product development advice. The fellow will assist with all of these issues, and more. Projects may range from researching a particular legal question to drafting agreements to developing internal and external policies. The fellow will receive individualized projects that he or she will be expected to spearhead under the supervision and guidance of an attorney from the Legal & Community Advocacy Department. The fellow will work closely with their supervising attorney -- attending and participating in internal and external meetings, collaborating on projects, receiving feedback and support, and generally learning about the practical dimensions of practicing law in-house at a high-profile web company. The fellow will work 40 hours per week at the Wikimedia Foundation's downtown San Francisco office.
Requirements
-- A demonstrated interest in intellectual property and internet law issues and the complexities involved in dealing with differing (and sometimes mutually exclusive) legal regimes.
-- High energy for and commitment to the Wikimedia Foundation's free knowledge mission, including an interest in free culture issues, open source software, Creative Commons licensing, etc.
-- Experience working with large online user communities (or at least the desire to). Lawyers with experience with wikis or Wikimedia projects are preferred.
-- A very good sense of humor and the ability to excel in a fast-paced, multitasking environment that demands fast turn-around.
-- Intellectual curiosity and flexibility that makes them enjoy tackling difficult and ambiguous problems in creative ways. Lawyers with strong research backgrounds are preferred.
-- The ability to flourish in a highly transparent and collaborative environment and work on a team with diverse demographic and cultural characteristics.
-- Excellent writing skills that can be adapted to communicate complex legal concepts to a large audience with varying (or no) backgrounds in law. Lawyers with experience and/or coursework in drafting agreements and/or policies are preferred.
-- Coursework or relevant practical experience in some or all of the following areas of law: privacy, internet law, freedom of speech (domestic and international), intellectual property, contract/policy drafting, and/or international law. Lawyers who have experience in these areas are heavily preferred.
-- Authorized to practice law in the State of California (either as an active member of the California Bar or by qualifying as in-house registered counsel).
Pluses
Being a Wikimedian! (Please share your username in your cover letter.)
About the Wikimedia Foundation
The Wikimedia Foundation is the non-profit organization that operates Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Wikipedia and the other projects operated by the Wikimedia Foundation receive more than 431 million unique visitors per month, making them the 5th most popular web property worldwide. Available in more than 287 languages, Wikipedia contains more than 32 million articles contributed by a global volunteer community of more than 100,000 people. Based in San Francisco, California, the Wikimedia Foundation is an audited, 501(c)(3) charity that is funded primarily through donations and grants. The Wikimedia Foundation was created in 2003 to manage the operation of Wikipedia and its sister projects. It currently employs over 208 staff members. Wikimedia is supported by local chapter organizations in 40 countries or regions.
For more information:
http://wikimediafoundation.org
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