The Fair Trial Initiative (FTI) strives to ensure fairness for indigent defendants facing the death penalty. FTI furthers this purpose by: (1) recruiting and training lawyers and other professionals to assist with representation in individual cases; (2) promoting a multi-disciplinary approach and teamwork in capital defense; and (3) continually introducing innovative approaches to the defense of death penalty cases. FTI also promotes reform through public education and advocacy.
The FTI offers two-year Osborn Fellowship program each year and engages in a national search to discover its newest class of law fellows. The candidate pool is diverse and extremely well-qualified, and includes individuals from dozens of the country’s best law schools who are committed to learning the best practices associated with capital trial preparation and litigation, yet dare to seek innovative approaches to providing the highest quality capital defense.
In this context, FTI is currently looking for outstanding third-year law students and new lawyers who are committed to providing first-rate legal representation to indigent defendants facing the death penalty. Special consideration will be given to applicants with a demonstrated interest in capital and criminal defense work, as well as those who articulate a desire to continue practice in North Carolina upon completion of the fellowship.
About Osborn Fellowship Program
The Fair Trial Osborn Fellowship requires a two-year commitment. Fellows should be prepared to begin work after Labor Day 2012. Compensation is $34,000 per year plus benefits that include full health care coverage. Fellows are expected to have a reliable vehicle throughout the fellowship, and extensive travel can be expected both in the course of representing clients and for training. Because Fellows’ work involves participating on several capital defense teams during and before trial, the Fellowship can be a very demanding and intense experience. Throughout the fellowship, participants will be required to attend several trainings and will be encouraged to augment them with additional training as opportunities arise.
Eligibility
Osborn Fellows must be graduates of an accredited law school by the time the fellowship begins. Fellowship applicants should be barred or should be planning to take the North Carolina bar in the summer preceding their fellowship.
Applicants need not be current law students to be considered for a fellowship. Applicants with clerkship or other practical experience are also welcome to apply.
Last date for submission of application is October 31, 2011
For more information and details, you can visit this link.
