United Mine Workers of America
Washington DC area (Triangle), VA
This is the 2025 fellowship description for this mentor organization.
The United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) was founded in 1890 and has a rich, progressive history of advocating on behalf of coal miners and workers in the nation’s coalfields. The UMWA has a long tradition of aggressive leadership in the struggle for workers' rights. It is responsible for creating a significant portion of existing labor law, both through litigation and legislation, and takes credit for implementation of the 8-hour day in 1898, collective bargaining rights in 1933, health and retirement benefits in 1946, and mine safety and health protections in 1969, 1977 and 2006. The Miners for Democracy movement in the 1970s was the first successful rank-and-file reform movement in the history of the US labor movement. Today, in addition to coal miners, the UMWA represents manufacturing workers, clean coal technicians, health care workers, corrections officers and public employees throughout the United States and Canada.
The Legal Department consists of three attorneys. Legal work regularly includes organizing, negotiations, contract enforcement, plant closings, health and safety law, and internal union affairs. In addition to providing legal advice and helping with the creation and implementation of Union policies, UMWA attorneys engage in litigation in state and federal courts, as well as before state and federal administrative agencies. The department works closely with all of the UMWA departments, and Fellows share the same broad exposure and experience.
The Peggy Browning Fellow will gain substantial research and writing experience, working with staff attorneys to support the UMWA and our membership. They will have the chance to work with each of the in-house lawyers, learning different substantive areas of the law and experiencing diverse lawyering styles. Experienced UMWA lawyers are always available to provide guidance and supervision when needed. The Fellow can expect to prepare a variety of written materials, including some that can be used as writing samples for later job applications.
In addition to the basic application requirements (cover letter, application form, essays, resume), applicants for this fellowship must also include two legal writing samples. Applicants must be able to supply their own transportation to the UMWA's Triangle, VA office, located approximately 30 miles south of Washington, DC.
The stipend for this fellowship will be $25/hour. Students typically work 35 hours/week.
Address cover letter to:
Address cover letter to:
Hill Pickens, Esq.
Staff Attorney
United Mine Workers of America
18354 Quantico Gateway Drive, Suite 200
Triangle, VA 22172
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