Political Science and Legal Studies

Living Routes has space available in several of its study abroad programs for both Summer and Fall 2013.  Living Routes empowers global citizens to consciously transform and connect communities, creating a socially just and sustainable world. We provide intentional integrative education programs within sustainable communities, inspiring powerful leaders to take action, one relationship and one community at a time.

The following online course has just been added to our list of approved Law-related Liberal Arts courses for the Legal Studies major:

Econ 397LE: Law and Economics

Law and economics addresses the economic motivation for legal practice and the economic implications of different legal regimes.  Law and economics is often taught based on the assumption that legal rules are and should be designed to maximize “efficiency,” often understood as some variant of cost-benefit analysis or welfare-maximization.  The best legal system is therefore, under this view, one that responds to impersonal factors, a society’s factor endowments and production technology. Our approach is different, because we recognize that legal systems are the product of political processes, shaped by the distribution of political and economic power, and with goals that go beyond maximizing output course to include the shaping of power within society.  The question then becomes whether the concept of “efficiency” can be as uncritically applied to legal rules as the field of law and economics often suggests.

We begin by exploring the relationship between a society and its legal system.  While some treat this as the relationship between a society’s economic substructure and its legal superstructure, we recognize that political and cultural relationships also have independent effects on the development of the economy and of the legal system.  We then focus critically on the question of efficiency, and on what sorts of limitations might be presented by the concept in its application to the law, drawing in part on the perspective offered by critical legal studies.  We then investigate different approaches to law and economics, apart from efficiency, including static theories of “original intent” and “individual rights,” as well as sociological theories where the law is a changing system to facilitate different social ends, a fair distribution of income, protection of the environment, and other ends.

Prerequisites for this class are either Econ 103, or Res-Econ 102.

This class was developed by Mark Silverman (graduate student in Economics and Attorney at Law) in consultation with Professor Gerald Friedman of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, an experienced teacher, renowned economic historian, author of many articles and books, and an editor of the journal Labor History.

This online course in Law and Economics is offered by the Department of Economics through the Office of Continuing and Professional Education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Questions? Email us: online@econs.umass.edu.

Grassroots Campaigns, a national political organizing firm that designs and runs campaigns on behalf of various progressive advocacy groups. We’re currently hiring students for paid positions on our summer outreach teams.

This summer, we’ll be building support for the world’s leading progressive organizations like ACLU, Southern Poverty Law Center, Oxfam America, Planned Parenthood and more! We’re passionate about making change on some serious issues such as equal rights, global poverty, and the environment.

We are currently hiring our top candidates as Field Managers who help plan our outreach strategy and oversee staff on a daily basis. Canvass staff work on the ground in cities across the country having face to face conversations and building a movement.

You can make a direct impact by talking to thousands of people throughout the summer, getting them involved with issues that you care about and fundraising for important causes, all while building skills and making connections!

If you’re looking to create social change, want to hone in your leadership skills, and make lasting connections with like-minded people, apply now!

Locations include: CA, CO, LA, IL, KS, MA, NC, NM, MO, NY, OR, PA, TX, WA & Washington DC.

For more information, go to  http://grassrootscampaigns.com/ .

Applications can be submitted online at  http://grassrootscampaigns.com/2013-summer-jobs-application/ .

Or for more information over the phone, call 617-470-3889.

Best,

Cassidy Edwards
Campus Recruitment Specialist
Grassroots Campaigns Inc.

The Student Judicial Advisers Program is now accepting applications for the 2013-2014 academic year. This program is designed to assist any student after they have been charged under the Code of Student Conduct. The advisers will give counsel and support to any student with a University-related discipline issue.

Responsibilities include:

• meeting with students to discuss the charges against them and what possible ramifications they could be facing,
• helping students to prepare the best possible cases for themselves (may include assisting students in formulating their arguments, gathering witness statements, and researching university policies and regulations),
• attending discipline hearings with students to provide counsel and support during those meetings,
• representing students during discipline hearings when it is permitted
• and aiding students in appealing the decision of their case if necessary.

This is a paid position, with no GPA or major requirements to apply. A discipline record with the university also does not rule out an applicant for this position, however, the student must be attending UMass Amherst for the whole 2013-2014 academic calendar.

The deadline for applications is Friday, April 26.  To request an application, email JudicialAdvisersApplication@gmail.com.

The Student Judicial Advisers Program is now accepting applications for positions during the 2013-2014 academic year.

The Student Judicial Advisers program is responsible for assisting all students after they have been charged by the University with violating the Code of Student Conduct. The Program is funded entirely by the Student Government Association, and is completely independent from the University discipline system. The program’s sole purpose is to provide counsel and support for students with any University discipline-related issue.

Responsibilities include:

• Meeting with students to discuss the charges against them and what possible ramifications they could be facing
• Helping students to prepare the best possible cases for themselves. This may include assisting students in formulating their arguments, gathering witness statements, and researching university policies and regulations.
• Attending discipline hearings with students to provide counsel and support during those meetings
• Representing students during discipline hearings when it is permitted
• Aiding students in appealing the decision of their case if necessary

This is a paid position.

Any student who will be attending UMass for the entirety of the 2013-2014 academic year is encouraged to apply. There will be mandatory training this semester for about an hour a week. There is no minimum GPA required, and a discipline record with the University does not preclude you from employment consideration.

To apply,

e-mail a request for an application to Matthew Berquist (umass.attorney.general@gmail.com) along with a current resume to judicialAdvisersApplication@gmail.com no later than Friday April 26th at 5:00pm. Please title the email with your name followed by “Student Judicial Advisers Application” (ex. John Smith’s Student Judicial Adviser Application). Students will be notified whether the Selection Committee has granted them an interview no later than Sunday April 28th.

For any questions, contact Matthew Berquist at umass.attorney.general@gmail.com

Meryl Schneider ’14 (Political Science and Legal Studies) traveled to Israel for Alternative Spring Break (ASB) funded by the Jewish National Fund and relying on donations from family and friends to travel to do good works in the Israeli community.

After participating in a birthright trip in the summer of 2012, Schneider could not wait to go back to Israel.

“I wanted to give back to those in need in Israel instead of just being a tourist. We focused mainly on projects in Northern Israel near Haifa and Jerusalem,” Schneider said.

Schneider explained that her group did a variety of things like re-painting houses, building handicap accessible paths, and planting tress in a forest that was destroyed in 2010.

Schneider had only positive things to say about her ASB experience. “I gained a new understanding of the different types of living conditions that exist in Israel that the average person forgets about. I would recommend ASB to any student because it was such a rewarding experience.”

Shayla Johnson ’16 (Legal Studies) went to Fort Lauderdale on a Habitat for Humanity trip over spring break.

In Fort Lauderdale, Johnson helped build houses. Johnson has been a part of the organization since last fall.

“I heard about the organization through a friend on my floor. It is the first time I have been involved with an organization like this and will definitely be participating with the organization in the future,” said Johnson of her experience.

She continued “Through the trip I was able to meet a variety of new people from all different backgrounds that have taught me more about the world and myself.”

Senator Stan Rosenberg, Majority Leader of the Massachusetts Senate, is currently accepting applications for summer internships in his Northampton and Boston offices.

The responsibilities for interns include:

• Answering telephone calls,
• Data entry,
• Attending briefings,
• Reviewing legislation, and
• Drafting correspondence, testimony, bill summaries, and policy briefs.

Graduate students and undergraduate juniors and seniors pursuing a degree in political science are preferred.

To apply, candidates should

submit their resume, cover letter, and two page writing sample not later than April 30, 2013.

For more information or to submit your application, please contact:

Rosalie Adams
Chief of Staff
Office of Senator Stan Rosenberg
rosalie.adams@masenate.gov

The Challenge Big Tobacco Campaign Internship is a

skills-building internship in which interns will take on significant projects to advance Corporate Accountability International’s mission, including the Challenge Big Tobacco Campaign.

The Challenge Big Tobacco Campaign Intern

will research and monitor the tobacco industry, mobilize grassroots actions with international partners around the world to challenge tobacco industry interference in health, and help support the organization’s international organizing team for United Nations and World Health Organization negotiation meetings, and media outreach. The projects will be coupled with training sessions on action planning, campaign research, media outreach, fundraising, and many other topics.

The internship takes place in Boston from May 29th- August 16th, 2013, and is full time during the summer.

In the Fall, it takes place from September to December, 2013. This one is for 15-20 hours per week.

The internship is unpaid, but interns will receive a $150 transportation stipend.

For more information, see their website.

To Apply,

send a letter of interest, a list of three references, and your resume to Michaela Howard at internships@stopcorporateabuse.org. Please indicate in your application materials where you found out about the internship.

UMass Career services is looking for undergraduates who will work under the supervision of a Graduate Assistant Career Advisor and Assistant Director for Career planning as a peer advisor. Preference is given to sophomore and juniors.

They will provide information and assistance to students regarding various aspects of career planning and development.

Some duties will include:

• Providing instruction and critique of resumes & cover letters and provide orientation to other career concerns to students on a walk-in basis
• Facilitate or co-facilitate career workshops
• Conduct outreach to students
• Perform other duties as assigned e.g., data entry, career fair support

Work-study is required for this, with shifts occurring  between 1pm4pm Monday-Friday, as well as some evening hours. Applicants must be available for 5-10 hours of work a week.

Applications will be reviewed as soon as they are received.

To apply, Submit resume and cover letter to:

Kate Allen, Graduate Assistant Career Advisor, Career Services, keallen@educ.umass.edu or drop off at 511 Goodell reception desk.