The American Constitution Society’s David Carliner Public Interest Award
David Carliner Public Interest Award
The American Constitution Society's David Carliner Public Interest Award recognizes outstanding mid-career public interest lawyers whose work best exemplifies its namesake’s legacy of fearless, uncompromising and creative advocacy on behalf of marginalized people.
The Award was established in memory of one of the great public interest lawyers of the 20th Century, David Carliner (1918-2007), who was a champion of justice in his native Washington, D.C. and on the national stage. A tireless, innovative litigator, he also played a leading role in building institutions devoted to protecting civil and human rights and combating injustice on a systemic basis. A pioneering immigration lawyer, an ardent foe of Jim Crow, and a leading champion of full political rights for citizens of the District of Columbia, he also was the founding chair of the American Civil Liberties Union-National Capital Area and the International Human Rights Law Group (now GlobalRights).
In determining the recipient of the Award, ACS will be advised by a panel of judges including:
- Nan Aron, Executive Director, Alliance for Justice
- Wade Henderson, President and CEO, Leadership Conference on Civil Rights
- Nadine Strossen, Professor, New York Law School and former President, American Civil Liberties Union
- Patricia Wald, former Chief Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and former Judge, International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia
- Deborah Carliner, attorney; Vice-President, ACLU-NCA
- Sarah Remes, attorney, Carliner and Remes
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Eligibility and Selection Criteria
To be considered for the Award, applicants must:
- Have graduated from law school between May 2000 and May 2005;
- Have demonstrated a passionate commitment to public interest law throughout their career and be employed at a nonprofit organization, government entity, or law firm whose mission supports and furthers the causes for which David Carliner stood; and
- Receive an annual salary of $110,000 or less.
Applicants will be evaluated on the extent to which their accomplishments exemplify David Carliner’s passionate commitment to one or more of the causes for which he worked: civil rights in a broad sense, civil liberties, international human rights and immigrants’ rights. Successful applicants will have pursued these causes with unwavering determination, creativity and effectiveness and be dedicated to working in the public interest throughout their careers.
Applicants whose work has focused on policy advocacy or litigation will be looked on with equal favor.
In keeping with the legacy of David Carliner, whose career was devoted to achieving a just and inclusive society for all, women, people of color, people with disabilities and gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people are encouraged to apply.
Finalists may be announced at the discretion of the judges. Applicants will be informed of their status in the spring.
To be considered for the David Carliner Public Interest Award, applicants must submit:
- A completed cover sheet. Applicants should download the form accessible here and email it with the other materials.
- A resume or CV;
- An essay of no more than 1500 words double spaced setting forth their qualifications for the award and including a statement that the applicant’s annual salary is $110,000 or less; and
- A letter of recommendation from a person familiar with the applicant's work and the criteria for the Award. The most helpful recommendation letter will explain and describe the applicant's creativity, boldness, and effectiveness in the context of the area of law, policy, or social movement in which he or she works. Applications should not include more than one letter of recommendation.
Applications must be submitted via email to CarlinerAward@ACSLaw.org. All four documents must be in PDF form and attached to a single email message. Incomplete applications and nominations will not be considered.
Applications for the 2010 Award must be received by 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday, February 1, 2010.
The Award will be announced and presented at the American Constitution Society National Convention. The recipient of the Award is encouraged to attend the Convention and accept the Award in person.
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