Legal Intern - Fall 2026 at Human Rights First

New York, New York, United States -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

15 Oct, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

17 Jul, 26

Experience

0 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Legal Research, Legal Writing, Client Interviewing, Case Strategy, Immigration Law, Administrative Law, Federal Regulations, Document Drafting, Advocacy, Problem Solving, Organizational Skills, Spanish Fluency

Industry

Non-profit Organizations

Description

Legal Intern - Fall 2026 The N.Y. office of Human Rights First seeks motivated legal interns for Fall 2026 to assist in providing pro bono legal representation to asylum seekers before the N.Y. Asylum Office and Immigration Courts. Interns will have the opportunity 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 legal strategy, forms completion, advocacy, legal research, and brief writing, among other tasks. 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 N.Y. team of HRF and may be performed remotely. 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. How will you make a difference in the Human Rights space through this internship? Legal interns meaningfully contribute to the Refugee Representation program, which provides legal assistance to asylum seekers who cannot afford an attorney and need help with a claim for asylum or other humanitarian-based forms of immigration relief. Interns actively engage in furthering Human Rights First mission of working in the United States to promote respect for human rights and the rule of law. Through direct engagement with refugees, legal interns assist in the furtherance of clients’ cases, applying their legal skills to the furtherance of human rights.   Essential Duties and Responsibilities * Interns have the opportunity to engage in client interviewing, to conduct intake interviews with potential clients, and to draft case summaries. * Interns will work with Human Rights First staff on asylum cases, providing support with draft declarations, briefs, legal memorandum, and other legal advocacy efforts. * Interns will assist with preparing and filing forms for affirmative immigration relief with Human Rights First clients, including asylum applications, family reunification petitions, employment authorization applications, temporary protected status, and applications for permanent residency. * Interns will conduct legal research in developing areas of 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 N.Y. area and virtually. Desired Skills and Experiences * 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 and deadlines * Fluency in a second language, particularly Spanish, is a plus Education: Enrollment in an accredited JD or LLM program. Compensation: Unpaid Submission Deadline: July 31, 2026 Start Date: September 8, 2026 End Date: December 11, 2026 Time Commitment: 30 hours/week Application Instructions: Cover Letter, Resume, Writing Sample (no more than 5 pages). 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.

Responsibilities

Provide pro bono legal representation to asylum seekers by conducting client interviews and drafting legal documents. Assist with the preparation of immigration relief forms and conduct legal research on country conditions and immigration law.