Legal Intern/Extern (U.S. Legal Services)

International Refugee Assistance Project; Oregon; Hybrid; USD 19,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) invites two law students to join as summer interns or externs in the U.S. Legal Services Department. The role is remote with an option to work from IRAP's New York City office.

It is a full-time internship lasting 10 weeks, beginning June 7, 2027 and ending August 13, 2027, with onboarding June 7–9. Responsibilities include drafting memos, conducting fact-finding, client interviews, and contributing to remote clinics, outreach, and guides.

Qualifications

• Rising 2L or 3L enrolled in US JD program.
• Strong research, writing, and analytical skills.
• Excellent English communication; knowledge of additional languages a plus.

Responsibilities

• Draft memos and briefs, conduct fact-finding and client interviews.
• Conduct intake interviews and identify client needs.
• Participate in remote legal clinics and projects.
• Create legal information materials and outreach.
• Update practitioner guides and analyze changes in law and government documents.

Skills

Research

Writing

Analytical

Interpersonal

Google Workspace

English fluency

Other languages

Refugee law interest

Education

J.D. program, US

Job description

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.

Possible Responsibilities

• 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
• Conducting intake interviews and identifying client needs for direct services
• Participating in discrete special projects, including remote legal clinics
• Conducting outreach to affected communities, preparing legal information materials, and participating in public education efforts
• 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

QualificationsEducation

• Must be a rising 2L or 3L, enrolled in a J.D. program in the United States

Experience:NA.Values, Competencies, and Skills:

• Strong research, writing, and analytical skills
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Sensitivity to client empowerment and to working with clients of all backgrounds, including LGBTI clients, survivors of trauma, and other vulnerable populations
• Initiative to see projects through and the ability to multitask
• Proficiency in Google Workspace
• Excellent English communication skills required. Ability to speak Arabic, Dari, Farsi, Somali, Pashto, Kurdish, or Spanish is a plus
• 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)

$17 - $17 an hour

Compensation/School Credit

• 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
• 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.

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.

IRAP is an equal-opportunity employer; people of color and individuals from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. IRAP does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, citizenship status, ethnic background, religion, political orientation, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, or any other protected class. We consider all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of all local, state, and federal laws related to the Fair Chance Act.