Government and Public Sector Lawyers Division
GPSLD provides publications, programming, and services designed for the unique needs of government lawyers; advocates for policies that benefit public lawyers; promotes professionalism; and recognizes excellence within the public sector.
The Americans with Disabilities Act: What You Need to Know Amid the COVID-19 Crisis
CLE Webinar: Thursday, September 24, 2020, 1:00-2:30 pm Eastern
During this pandemic, a host of issues can arise that implicate the ADA. Screening job applicants for COVID symptoms, asking questions about whether an employee is at a higher risk due to an underlying medical condition, and addressing reasonable accommodation and undue hardship during the pandemic and its associated business challenges, can all raise questions under the ADA and other EEO laws.
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Military Working Dogs
Kudos to Division members Jill Mariani and Frances Arricale who recently won the International Animal Law Committee’s 2020 Outstanding Policy Award for their invaluable work on ABA policy related to Military Working Dogs. Resolution 104B was passed by the ABA House of Delegates during the 2020 Midyear Meeting.
Read Resolution 104B - Click Here!
How to Manage Remote Employees in the Pandemic Era
Tips for Managers
COMMUNICATION – Establish regularly scheduled check-ins and team meetings to ensure effective communication and camaraderie. When everyone is working remotely, it's more important than ever to establish a sense of normalcy by ensuring on-going communication among staff. INVOLVEMENT – Spend a few minutes before each meeting or check-in catching up with your remote employees. Ask a few questions about how they're holding up. It's important to put a more effort into your interpersonal connections when everyone is working remotely. APPRECIATION – Be generous with your praise. When a face-to-face thank you is not possible, it's even more important to remember to praise employees. If they've done a good job, tell them that you are grateful for their work. It may seem obvious, but a lot of supervisors forget the importance of showing gratitude to their employees.
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Virginia Solicitor General: Government Lawyers' Work is Critically Important
The work of government lawyers is “critically important to the balance of the rule of law,” Virginia Solicitor General Toby Heytens said during his speech at the American Bar Association Government and Public Sector Lawyers Division’s Legal Skills Conference held Oct. 18 at the Omni Richmond (Va.) Hotel.
Read - ArticleGovernment Lawyers Volunteer in Richmond, Virginia
Would you like a cup of coffee?
This simple question was the basis of the ABA’ s Government and Public Sector Lawyers Division’s (GPSLD) recent volunteer project at the Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Richmond, Virginia, on October 17. Hospital visitors were thankful for the simple gesture. But it was the government lawyer volunteers who were appreciative. The volunteers were grateful that they could bring a smile to the face of those who served our country. Several people approached the group and relayed moving stories of how they had been assisted by public lawyers. Government lawyer volunteers distributed information about lawyer referral services and pro bono assistance to those who asked for legal help. Thank you to former GPSLD council member Kristine Kassekert, who organized the project! Photo Caption L-R: Katherine Mikkelson and Bernadette Peele
Join Government and Public Sector Lawyers Division
The Government and Public Sector Lawyers Division's mission is to serve the nation’s public lawyers. By promoting integrity and excellence among public advocates, providing meaningful services not obtainable elsewhere, and by highlighting the extraordinary work of public lawyers, GPSLD works to enhance the position of public lawyers, create camaraderie within the public sector, and provide representation within the ABA for public lawyers.
Podcasts
GPSLD podcasts explore a variety of topics of interest to government lawyers or those seeking a public sector legal career. One podcast, "Compelling Conversations with Colleagues" is a series of interviews with a wide variety of public lawyers that examines how they obtained their position, their work duties and their career highlights.
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On-Demand Webinars
Good Dogs and the Law: Service, Emotional Support, Therapy and Facility Animals
Laws pertaining to service animals, emotional support or comfort animals, therapy animals, and facility dogs are confusing. This webinar examines: Section 35.136 of the Americans with Disabilities Act which covers service animals, Reasonable accommodations as it pertains to housing and air travel under the Fair Housing Act and the Air Carrier Access Act for emotional support/comfort animals, How therapy animals differ from the above categories with generally no special rights of access, How facility dogs are used by prosecutor’s offices, Children’s Advocacy Centers, law enforcement, Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) programs and family courts including best practices when setting up a facility dog program.
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Contact Us
American Bar Association Government & Public Sector Lawyers Division 1050 Connecticut Avenue, NW Suite 400 Washington, DC 20036
Latest Job Postings
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Executive Director Albany, NY, United States
Executive Director
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Director - Office of Accountability and Transparency (Critical Position) Phoenix, AZ, United States
Director
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Staff Attorney (Housing and Environment) Philadelphia, PA, United States
Staff Attorney (Housing and Environment)
GPSLD Committee Highlights
GPSLD's International Pro Bono Committee provides members with information about pro bono opportunities around the world. The Hot Topics Committee monitors public law practice to determine if there are any issues that the division should investigate more deeply by, for instance, publishing an article, presenting a CLE program or sponsoring policy before the ABA House of Delegates. To join either or both committees email alison.hill@americanbar.org