Legal Intern/Extern (U.S. Legal Services)
Opportunity
The International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) seeks two law students to work as summer interns or externs with our U.S. Legal Services Department. This is a remote internship, but candidates may have the option to work from IRAP’s New York City office space.
We will prioritize the review of applications received by October 30, 2026, so interested students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
Possible Responsibilities
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Supporting the direct representation of forcibly displaced people and their family members seeking safe passage to the United States by drafting memos, briefs, conducting fact-finding, and interviewing clients;
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Conducting intake interviews and identifying client needs for direct services;
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Participating in discrete special projects, including remote legal clinics;
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Conducting outreach to affected communities, preparing legal information materials, and participating in public education efforts;
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Drafting and updating legal practitioner guides, analyzing changes in law and newly released government documents, and creating other materials to assist IRAP staff and legal aid practitioners.
Qualifications
Education:
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Must be a rising 2L or 3L, enrolled in a J.D. program in the United States.
Experience:
NA.
Values, Competencies, and Skills:
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Strong research, writing, and analytical skills;
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Strong interpersonal and communication skills;
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Sensitivity to client empowerment and to working with clients of all backgrounds, including LGBTI clients, survivors of trauma, and other vulnerable populations;
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Initiative to see projects through and the ability to multitask;
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Proficiency in Google Workspace;
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Excellent English communication skills required. Ability to speak Arabic, Dari, Farsi, Somali, Pashto, Kurdish, or Spanish is a plus;
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Strong interest in refugee processing, immigration law, and human rights.
Internship-related Requirements
- This internship will be remote, possibly with the option to work out of the New York office.
- This is a full-time internship and requires a 10-week commitment.
- Must have work authorization in the United States to apply for an internship (candidates may apply for an externship regardless of work authorization status).
Compensation/School Credit:
IRAP can host interns/externs in two ways:
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IRAP’s summer program contemplates that interns will be paid, but asks interns to pursue public interest funding from their law schools first. If paid by IRAP, students are compensated $17 per hour (or the intern’s state minimum wage, to be applied) for 40 hours per week.
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Non-compensated externs for academic credit(s) (must be coordinated in collaboration with an applicant’s school)
Internship and externship candidates will be considered equally.
Duration:
This is a full-time position that requires a 10-week commitment, beginning on Monday, June 7, 2027, and ending Friday, August 13, 2027, with onboarding days scheduled from June 7 to 9, 2027, in IRAP’s New York office. If you are only able to work part-time (for example, if you are a part-time student) or are unable to begin on June 7, 2026, please still apply, and we will review your application.
Application Process
Please submit the following materials here. We will only review complete applications.
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A 1-page cover letter describing your interest in working with IRAP, including any relevant life or work experience (please address your cover letter to: “Intern/Extern Hiring Committee”);
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A 1-2 page resume;
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A brief legal writing sample (no more than 10 pages) not heavily edited by others, e.g. research memo or excerpt of a brief;
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A list of 2-3 professional references.
We will prioritize the review of applications received by October 30, 2026, so interested students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
Applicants interested in multiple internship/externship opportunities should submit separate applications for each position for which they are interested and qualified.
IRAP believes that diversity is critical to fostering a strong workplace and serving our clients well. We strongly encourage applications from people with lived experiences in the communities that we serve, members of other marginalized communities, and individuals whose identities are underrepresented in the legal profession.
