** Employment Opportunity **
Mitchell Hamline School of Law
PUBLIC HEALTH LAW CENTER
Title: Research Assistant
Division: N/A
Description: The Public Health Law Center is looking for 1-2 student legal Research Assistants who have a passion for working for the social good and who share our commitment to continued learning on issues related to racial and social justice, including the social determinants of health, implicit bias, and systemic oppression.
The Center’s mission is health through the power of law and policy. The Center works directly with its partners, helping to empower them to reduce and eliminate commercial tobacco, promote healthy food, support physical activity, and address other causes of chronic disease. Our belief in health and equity for all people is at the core of our work. Our partnerships include Tribal health leaders, federal agencies, national health advocacy organizations, state and local governments, planners, researchers, attorneys, community coalitions, and individuals working on public health issues. Our deep knowledge, thoughtful legal and policy analysis, and individualized approach help these partners create healthier communities throughout the country.
We provide legal research and other legal policy support to groups in Minnesota and across the U.S., assisting local and state health departments, the CDC, health advocacy organizations, government attorneys, community coalitions, and others working on public health policy.
The Center has an immediate opening for 1-2 part-time legal Research Assistants to each work 15-20 hours per week (or 1 full-time), on a national project addressing dedication and allocation of state and local sugary drink tax revenues. Part of the work will include research on how revenue dedication and allocation is accomplished in other tax areas such as tobacco, gas, and cannabis. Duties will include working with staff attorneys to help conduct multi-state research; make database entries; summarize results regarding dedication and allocation of various subject matter specific tax revenues; and help prepare summaries and/or publication or presentation of approaches to dedicate and allocate tax revenues. As time allows, the student legal Research Assistant(s) may also work with staff attorneys and policy analysts to respond to other requests for legal research and legal technical assistance on questions related to food policy, active transportation, e-cigarettes, commercial tobacco usage, and health equity. Student legal Research Assistants have opportunities to learn about multiple aspects of public health laws and policies such as local government laws and authority, state and federal regulatory processes, land use laws, business licensing laws, food safety laws, and other areas of practice.
Applicants must be enrolled in a JD program, or have experience in the legal or policy field. Qualified applicants must have excellent legal research and writing skills, strong interpersonal and critical thinking skills, and ability to work independently. This is an excellent opportunity for a student to hone their research and writing skills under the supervision of nationally recognized public health law experts.
2L or 3L students are encouraged to apply.
Please e-mail a cover letter, resume, and writing sample to Jon Lee,(jon.lee@mitchellhamline.edu). Although these are not exclusively work study positions please note your work study eligibility in your application e-mail and your cover letter.
This position pays between $13.50 and $15.50 per hour depending on year of study.
Mitchell Hamline School of Law is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based on race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, veteran/military status, disability or handicap, age, sexual orientation, status with regard to public assistance, or any other protected class status.
Members of marginalized and underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.
Geographic Preference: Twin Cities Metro (MN)
Position Type: Work-study, Part-time
Desired Class Level(s): 2L (3LPT), 3L (4LPT)
APPLICATION DEADLINE: FOR BEST CONSIDERATION, PLEASE APPLY BY EOB OCTOBER 1, 2021