Legal Internship, Immigration Impact LAB

Overview

A legal organization dedicated to immigrant rights is seeking a 2L or 3L law student for a Fall 2026 internship with its Immigration Impact Lab, an appellate and federal litigation project. The Lab focuses on appeals and federal court actions to defend and improve laws affecting immigrant communities.

This internship involves assisting with appeals before the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) and U.S. Courts of Appeal, as well as supporting class action cases, amicus briefs, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) litigation, and habeas petitions.

The internship requires a commitment of at least 15 hours per week for 13 weeks, starting around August 31, 2026. The position is unpaid, but assistance with internship credit and a limited number of small scholarship stipends are available.

Responsibilities

• Assist with appeals related to asylum, Convention Against Torture, crimmigration, and immigration detention, including legal research, memorandum writing, and briefing.
• Support drafting habeas petitions to secure release of detained immigrant adults, including client interviews, evidence collection, and collaboration with advocacy groups.
• Assist with FOIA litigation by drafting requests and complaints, researching exemptions, and analyzing FOIA responses.
• Help develop website resources, conduct trainings, and draft practice advisories to support attorneys working with immigrants in detention.

Requirements

• Enrollment as a second- or third-year law student at a U.S. ABA-accredited law school (evening students welcome).
• Ability to commit a minimum of 15 hours per week.
• Strong legal research, writing, and communication skills.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills; ability to work effectively in a team.
• Interest or experience in immigration law, immigrants’ rights, social justice, or advocacy.
• Comfort working with adults and children from low socio-economic backgrounds, including those with trauma or criminal justice system involvement.
• Spanish fluency preferred but not required; fluency in other languages such as French, Portuguese, or Arabic is also welcome.
• Background in community organizing or political lobbying is a plus but not required.

Required Resources

• Laptop or computer
• Reliable internet access
• Phone

Temporary laptop access may be provided if needed.

Application Process

Applicants from historically underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply. Applications should include:

• Cover letter explaining interest and relevant experiences
• Resume
• At least two references
• One writing sample (legal memoranda, briefs, research papers, or articles accepted)

Applicants should apply to only one department within the organization to match their skills and interests.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis; early application is encouraged. The deadline to apply is July 31, 2026.

Compensation & Benefits

• This is an unpaid internship.
• Assistance with internship credit is available.
• A limited number of small scholarship stipends are offered by separate application.

Location

• The internship may be completed remotely to accommodate applicants regardless of geographic location.
• Interns located near Washington, D.C. may have opportunities for in-office work, in-person meetings, and court observation but there is no in-person requirement.