Patricia Hassett Legal Fellow – Syracuse University

Syracuse University invites applicants for the Patricia Hassett Legal Fellowship, a new position which provides candidates who are passionate about government transparency with the unique opportunity to join the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) team. The Hassett Fellow will help guide ongoing efforts to secure public access to internal databases and other federal records through Freedom of Information Act requests and litigation, support TRAC’s FOIA Project, which monitors government compliance with FOIA’s disclosure requirements, and expand TRAC’s legal internship program for law students. Applicants must have a J.D. (admission to bar a plus), demonstrate a passion for promoting government transparency, and be able to show evidence of effective project management and interpersonal skills that would facilitate working collaboratively with faculty, students and staff.

The Hassett Fellowship was created in honor of the life and legacy of Patricia Hassett (1941–2009), the first female faculty member at Syracuse University’s College of Law and an active supporter of TRAC’s work. Hassett Fellows will bridge media and law at Syracuse University.  The fellows will hold a faculty appointment at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and be eligible for a courtesy appointment at the College of Law, an appointment that will directly connect fellows with law students and law faculty.  The initial term of faculty appointment is one year.  Candidates with excellent performance can expect reappointment for a second year with the possibility to transition to a regular research faculty position at TRAC, subject to continued funding availability.

• Guide active campaigns using the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to secure public access to federal agency records.
• Assist TRAC’s ongoing FOIA litigation.
• Expand the coverage and reach of TRAC’s FOIA Project which monitors government compliance with the FOIA Act’s disclosure requirements.
• Enhance opportunities for law students to become involved in TRAC’s work.

Applicants for the Hassett Fellow position must hold a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) along with a driving passion to public accountability and transparency. Candidates should demonstrate training or experience in some combination of federal civil and administrative law, and the use of FOIA and other transparency statutes.  Past experience in the conduct of Freedom of Information Act and other transparency initiatives is highly desirable.  Admission to the bar in a state, territory, or district of the United States would be a strong plus.

• Superior analytic, research, and writing skills.
• Ability to conduct legal research as well as data-driven analyses.
• Proven ability to work independently as well as within a team.
• Excellent interpersonal and verbal communication skills.
• Self-motivated with the ability to take initiative.
• Manage a variety of tasks and see projects through to completion.
• Ability to work with a wide range of people and foster a team environment.

Application:

Interested applicants can view the posting here.

Application Deadline: 09/01/2021

In addition to completing an online application, please attach a curriculum vitae, cover letter, and list of references.