Washington, DC

This is the 2024 fellowship description for this mentor organization.

The International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) proudly represents around 200,000 members across the United States and Canada. SMART’s membership consists of sheet metal workers, service technicians, bus operators, engineers, conductors, sign workers, welders, production workers, and more.

Our summer fellowship program offers an unparalleled chance to learn firsthand how an international union operates. The fellow will spend ten weeks shadowing our House Counsel, whose daily responsibilities include advising SMART’s General President on issues arising under the SMART Constitution, providing legal support to SMART’s Organizing Department on everything from conventional, bottom-up organizing drives to strategic, “comprehensive” campaigns, drafting and reviewing SMART policies and programs, and creating innovative trainings for our staff and local unions. One of the more memorable assignments our 2023 fellow completed was co-presenting a seminar on job actions which was attended by hundreds of local union business agents.

SMART’s Legal Department has a fresh understanding of what makes a good summer job and a sincere interest in developing the next generation of union lawyers. To that end, the fellow will have informal, daily check-ins with our House Counsel and will be invited to attend meetings they do. If health and safety conditions permit it, the fellow may also attend a conference for local union business agents. We can guarantee the fellow will leave the fellowship with at least one major writing sample.

Applicants should possess a demonstrated interest in the labor movement. 2Ls who will have taken a labor law class by the end of their 2L year are preferred. In addition to the basic application requirements, applicants for this fellowship must also submit a legal writing sample and law school transcript.

The fellowship will last 10 weeks, with a total stipend of $10,000.

Address cover letter to:
Luke Rebecchi, House Counsel
International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers
1750 New York Ave, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20006

www.smart-union.org