Legal Intern/Extern (U.S. Litigation)

Democracy Fund; New York (NY); Remote; USD 19,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote internship

NYC office option

Job summary

International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) seeks two law students for summer internships or externships with our U.S. Litigation department. This is a remote internship, with the option to work from IRAP’s New York City office.

We will prioritize applications by Nov 1, 2026, and the internship runs for 10 weeks from June 7 to August 13, 2027, with onboarding in IRAP’s New York office. Applicants must be rising 2Ls or 3Ls in the U.S. and have work authorization to apply.

Qualifications

• Must be a rising 2L or 3L enrolled in a U.S. J.D. program; rising 3Ls strongly preferred.
• Strong research, writing, and analytical skills.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Sensitivity to client empowerment and to working with diverse clients.
• Initiative to see projects through and ability to multitask.
• Proficiency in Google Workspace.
• Excellent English communication skills; Arabic, Dari, Farsi, Somali, Pashto, Kurdish, or Spanish a plus.
• Interest in refugee processing, immigration law, and human rights.

Responsibilities

• Conduct intake interviews and identify client needs for litigation.
• Conduct factual and legal research in support of litigation.
• Provide research memos to the team.
• Assist in litigation efforts, including preparing documents and cite-checking.

Skills

Research

Writing

Analytical thinking

Interpersonal skills

Google Workspace

English proficiency

Language skills

Education

J.D. candidate (2L/3L)

Tools

Google Workspace

Job description

Opportunity

The International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) seeks two law students to work as summer interns or externs with our U.S. Litigation 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 November 1, 2026, so interested students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

Possible Responsibilties

• Conducting intake interviews and identifying client needs for litigation purposes, including explaining litigation and drafting affidavits;
• Conducting factual and legal research in support of ongoing or planned litigation;
• Providing research memos to the team in support of ongoing or planned litigation; and
• Participating in litigation efforts as appropriate, including preparing litigation documents and cite-checking.

Qualifications

Education:

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

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).

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.

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.

17 - 17 USD

Internship hosting options

IRAP can host interns/externs in two ways:

• 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.