The Equal Justice Society is now accepting applications for its 2010-2011 Judge Constance Baker Motley Civil Rights Fellowship, named after the first African American woman to serve on the federal bench. Applicants for the one-year paid fellowship should be recent law school graduates with up to five years of work experience after law school.

Applications must be received in our office, not postmarked by December 7, 2009.

EJS is a national strategy group heightening consciousness on race in the law and popular discourse. As heirs of the innovative legal and political strategists of Brown v. Board of Education, the organization broadly models its programmatic efforts after the late Honorable Constance Baker Motley and the Brown litigation team. Using a three-prong strategy of law and public policy advocacy, cross-disciplinary convenings and strategic public communications, EJS seeks to restore race equity issues to the national consciousness, build effective progressive alliances, and advance discourse on the positive role of government.

Motley Fellowship applicants should demonstrate experience in civil rights advocacy and a strong commitment to racial justice. The Fellow will work under the supervision of staff attorneys for a 12-month period. During the fellowship period, the Fellow may lead new research, advocacy, coalition building, and public education efforts related to transforming anti-discrimination law and policy. The Fellow will be a full participant in office events and activities, including staff meetings and strategic planning sessions.

The position is based in our San Francisco office and runs from October 1, 2010, to September 30, 2011, with some flexibility in dates.

To be considered for the Judge Constance Baker Motley Civil Rights Fellowship, applicants should send a cover letter, resume, list of four (4) references and a writing sample (preferably on a racial/social justice topic) to info@equaljusticesociety.org with the subject line “Motley Fellowship Application” or mail hard copies to Motley Fellowship Applications, Equal Justice Society, 260 California Street, Suite 700, San Francisco, CA 94111.

Applicants should be recent law school graduates with 0-5 years of work experience after law school. Bar passage is not required. Candidates will be evaluated based upon criteria including: Demonstrated commitment to racial and social justice; Demonstrated interest in civil rights law and policy;  Excellent research and oral /written communication skills.

The Judge Motley Fellowship was established to invigorate the next generation of progressive legal practitioners seeking to transform anti-discrimination law and policy. Proceeds from the annual Judge Motley Fellowship luncheon support the fellowship.

Brando Simeo Starkey graduated in June of 2008 with a J.D. from Harvard Law School. There, he was a research assistant at both the Jamestown Project, a think tank, and at the Law School’s library researching various matters for professors. He was also was an opinion editorialist for the Harvard Law Record, the school’s newspaper.

Brando also participated in the Human Rights clinic working for the Center for Constitutional Rights and Alternatives for Community & Environment. During his final year, he did some archival research for Philip Hamburger’s book Law and Judicial Duty.

His first year summer experience involved investigating poverty, arbitrary arrest and constitutional issues in Sierra Leone for the Sierra Leone Citizens’ Rights Association. The following summer, he interned at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in Boston, Mass.

He received his undergraduate degree from Ohio State University in 2004 where he participated in the Students Research Opportunities Program and was a grant recipient for the STARS Research Program.

Additionally, he has published several works: The Veil of Fair Representation: Maurice Clarett v. NFL, “Acting White” and the Achievement Gap: Burden or Myth?: A Research Brief & Recommendations for Educators, Policymakers & Members of the Media, and Drastic Action: The 1983 Course Boycott at Harvard Law School.

Brando is finishing his first book on how the epithet Uncle Tom illustrates the various manners in which the law impacts Black culture. He has also delivered speeches on his written works at related academic conferences.

In addition to finishing his book, since graduation, Brando participates in the Post-Graduate Research Fellowship at HLS and was a Harvard Law Summer Fellow in 2008.

Brando starts his fellowship at EJS in October 2009.