Legal Internship – Summer 2027

NJCIC; Jersey City (NJ); Hybrid; USD 27,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stipend available

Hybrid work model in Jersey City

Job summary

NJCIC invites law students to join as an internship focused on immigration relief for youth, including SIJS and asylum applications. You will work under the Legal Director and Senior Attorneys, preparing filings, affidavits, and client communications in removal proceedings, with in-person Tuesdays/Thursdays in Jersey City and remote work for the rest of the week.

The internship exposes you to trauma-informed intake screening, court observations, and collaboration with partners like Florecer and

Qualifications

• Enrollment as a U.S. law school student for 10–12 weeks, full time, from late May 2026 to early August 2026.
• Hybrid work model with in-person Tuesdays and Thursdays at a co-working space in Jersey City.
• Fluency in Spanish strongly preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Prepare applications for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), asylum, work authorization and related benefits.
• Draft motions and evidentiary submissions for clients in removal proceedings before Newark Immigration Court.
• Interview clients, draft affidavits and briefs, prepare forms and documentary evidence, and maintain client communication.
• Observe immigration court proceedings and attend hearings as scheduled during the internship term.

Skills

Spanish language

Education

Law school enrollment in U.S.

Job description

About NJCIC

NJCIC works with New Jersey’s young immigrants and their allies to advance their full, fearless participation in our society. NJCIC seeks lawful status for immigrant youth and advocates for system-wide change in the areas of education, access to justice, and health equity. Our Legal Program provides direct immigration legal services to children and youth in removal proceedings and applications for asylum, Special Immigration Juvenile Status, and other benefits, and serves as the intake and referral hub for all children and youth seeking help from a state-funded program providing free representation in immigration matters. We empower immigrant youth and families by conducting Know Your Rights sessions and developing youth-oriented educational materials. We improve representation and advocacy on behalf of immigrant youth by convening trainings and bimonthly provider meetings. More information about our work is available at www.njcic.org.

Internship Description

Under the supervision of the Legal Director, Senior Attorneys, and Staff Attorneys, the intern will work directly with NJCIC’s youth clients and their caregivers to prepare applications for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), asylum, work authorization and related benefits. The intern will also work with attorneys and clients to draft motions and evidentiary submissions for clients in removal proceedings before the Newark Immigration Court. The intern will gain experience interviewing clients, drafting affidavits and briefs, preparing forms and documentary evidence, preparing clients for testimony, and maintaining client communication. The intern may also assist in conducting trauma-informed pre-screenings of callers to our intake line to determine their eligibility for free representation. The intern will have the opportunity to observe proceedings in immigration court and attend any court hearings that may be scheduled during their internship term. Additionally, NJCIC’s legal projects include Florecer, a medical-legal partnership in collaboration with a Zufall Health, a federally qualified health center, Beacon, an educational-legal partnership with Jersey City public schools, and a Rapid Response Initiative focused on providing direct legal representation or advice and counsel to young immigrants at high risk of removal from the U.S. or at high risk of aging out of eligibility for immigration relief. We anticipate that the intern will have an opportunity to participate in some aspects of these innovative programs, dependent on program needs and the intern’s interests. The intern may also assist in the development of community education materials for children and families that provide plain-language explanations of what to expect during the immigration process. The intern will have the unique opportunity to gain a big-picture perspective on the challenges facing unaccompanied children and the urgent need for additional resources for their representation.

Internship Requirements

• The internship is open to students enrolled at a law school in the U.S. and is for 10-12 weeks, full time, from late May 2026 - early August 2026.


• NJCIC has a hybrid work model - the intern will be required to work in person on Tuesdays and Thursdays at an amenity-filled co-working space in Jersey City and complete their remaining weekly hours remotely. The office is accessible to PATH (5-minute walk from Grove Street PATH station) and NJ Transit for interns located throughout the Tristate area. The intern may have the opportunity to attend court or other in-person events across the state, which may require some travel or additional in-person days.


• Fluency in Spanish is strongly preferred but not required.

NJCIC is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. People of color, women, people with disabilities, immigrants, veterans, LGBTQIA+ people, and those with lived experiences in the communities we serve are strongly encouraged to apply.

Stipend Information

A stipend is available for those students who are lawfully authorized to work. NJCIC will work with interns to apply for stipend funding through their law school or law student public interest internship stipend programs. Students who do not receive outside funding or who receive funding of less than $7,500 are eligible for a stipend from NJCIC to bring their total funding up to $7,500.