Legal Intern - REMOTE (Los Angeles)
Legal Intern - Refugee Representation Spring 2022
The Los Angeles office of Human Rights First seeks motivated legal interns for the Spring 2022 semester to assist in providing pro bono legal representation to asylum seekers in non-detained and detained settings before the Los Angeles Asylum Office and Immigration Courts. Interns will have opportunities to work directly with clients on interviewing and document drafting and collaborate with attorneys on case strategy. Opportunities to work on direct representation cases include forms completion and advocacy, brief writing, and strategy preparation.
Human Rights First is dedicated to inclusivity and will assist interns with externship credit, work-study, or securing funding from external sources. This position is unpaid and will support the Los Angeles team of HRF and may be performed at a partial-remote setting. A computer and internet connection are required for this position. People of color, women, people with disabilities, and members of the LGBT community are encouraged to apply.
DUTIES
- Interns may have the opportunity to assist staff in conducting intake interviews with potential clients and drafting case summaries.
- Interns will work with staff at Human Rights First on asylum cases with clients to draft declarations, briefs, legal memorandum, and other legal advocacy for asylum seekers to submit to federal agencies.
- Interns will assist with preparing and filing forms for affirmative immigration relief with Human Rights First’s clients, including asylum applications, family reunification petitions, and applications for permanent residency.
- Attorneys may request legal interns to conduct legal research developing immigration law and country conditions for analysis and reporting.
- Interns will have opportunities to attend legal trainings, advocacy groups, and discussion panels in the greater Los Angeles area and virtually.
REQUIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE
- Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and creative problem-solving skills with the ability to manage multiple deadlines at once
- Legal research and writing skills, particularly in immigration law, administrative law, federal law, and federal regulations
- Dedicated interest and passion for immigration advocacy, direct client representation, and protecting the rights of migrants
- Experience working with vulnerable populations and survivors of trauma
- Ability to work collaboratively with staff, clients, and community organizations
- Motivated to work independently to manage multiple tasks on important deadlines
- Fluency in a second language, particularly French, Kreyol, or Spanish a plus
REQUIRED EDUCATION: Enrollment in an accredited JD or LLM Program
COMPENSATION: Unpaid
START DATE: January 24, 2022
TIME COMMITMENT: 15 hours per week
REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS: Cover Letter, Resume, Writing Sample (no more than 5 pages), all in PDF
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: December 3, 2021
Human Rights First is committed to recruiting, retaining, and developing staff from a diversity of backgrounds, including members of racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQ people, people with disabilities, people of all socioeconomic backgrounds, people of all nationalities, and veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. We believe that a diverse staff and an inclusive work environment that welcomes a range of perspectives make us stronger and more effective.