Job description
Opportunity
This fellowship is an opportunity for law students who have lived experience of displacement or marginalization to support the work of an organization leveraging legal and advocacy tools to assist people who are forcibly displaced. Students who are passionate about immigration work and are looking for further opportunities to explore this legal field are encouraged to apply.
Over the course of the academic year, student fellows will receive training and legal work to increase their substantive knowledge, familiarity with IRAP’s work, and lawyering skills. The expected time commitment is about 2-3 hours per week, which will include a combination of trainings, mentorship, and legal casework and projects. The fellowship schedule will be adjusted during exam periods.
Student fellows will be trained on client work skills, legal research, working with interpreters, the U.S. refugee landscape, and more. Fellows will be exposed to a variety of IRAP’s case types, including but not limited to family reunification, Special Immigrant Visas (SIV), the US Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), climate-related asylum claims, and applying for protection at the U.S.-Mexico border. Fellows will also have mentorship and networking opportunities to explore careers in this field, both at IRAP and our partner organizations. While the fellowship will be fully remote, fellows will travel for two 3-day retreats in September/October and May, at least one of which will be to IRAP’s NYC office, with all expenses covered by IRAP.
Preference is given to law students attending schools outside our existing law school chapter network.
Responsibilities
Work responsibilities will be tailored as much as possible to each fellow’s interests.
Attend trainings on relevant law, policies, and legal pathways.
Participate in skills-building trainings such as client interviewing, writing affidavits, and legal ethics.
Attend regular meetings with fellowship cohort, task supervisors, and assigned mentors.
Participate in 3-day trips to IRAP’s office in New York City and possibly another location in September/October and May (all expenses will be covered by IRAP).
Support IRAP’s work, including by:
Supporting the direct representation of forcibly displaced people and their family members seeking safe passage to the United States by drafting memos, applications briefs, conducting fact-finding, and interviewing clients;
Conducting intake interviews and identifying client needs for direct services;
Participating in discrete special projects, including legal clinics, providing assistance to client communities;
Conducting outreach to affected communities, preparing and disseminating know-your-rights materials, pro se resources, and participating in public education efforts;
Contributing as needed to the work of other programmatic departments, such as participating in litigation efforts as appropriate, conducting legal research in support of our work on climate displacement, and drafting and updating legal practitioner guides.
Qualifications
Education:
Have completed 1L year at a U.S.-based law school.
Values, Competencies, and Skills:
Strong interest in the immigration field;
Relevant skills and experience for the fellowship responsibilities;
Clear vision for how the fellowship fits into overall career goals;
Commitment to the full academic year program; and
Ability to work independently and be accountable in a remote setting.
Job-related Requirements
- The Fellowship is based in the US (remote within the United States).
- The expected time commitment is about 2-3 hours per week.
- This Fellowship requires travel for two 3-day retreats, at least one of which will be to IRAP’s office in New York in September/October and May (dates TBD - all expenses will be covered by IRAP).
- This Fellowship does not require office availability and is entirely remote.
$2,000 - $2,000 a year
This fellowship comes with a $2,000 stipend for the year.
Fellows will also have their airfare, hotel, local transportation, and food covered during the two trips to New York.
Application Instructions
Please submit:
- A copy of your updated resume or CV, and
- A written response to the following application questionnaire in a separate document, instead of a cover letter.
Application Questionnaire
Instructions:
- Please answer the following questions in a separate document and upload it to your application.
- Please observe the provided word limits.
- We strongly recommend that you consider and incorporate the information in the job posting into your answers.
- Please note that while we welcome you to share personal, lived experiences in your answers, if you so wish, that is not at all required for this application. We are selecting fellows based on their interest in our work, their skills and experiences, and their understanding of this fellowship and how it fits into their overall career goals.
Questions:
- Name:
- Law School:
- Have You Completed 1L Year? (Yes/No):
- IRAP’s mission statement is as follows: IRAP is a global legal aid and advocacy organization working to create a world where refugees and all people seeking safety are empowered to claim their right to freedom of movement and a path to lasting refuge. Everyone should have a safe place to live and a safe way to get there. What interests you in our mission? (250 word limit)
- Why are you interested in this fellowship? (250 word limit)
Some questions to consider:
1- How would this fellowship contribute to your future goals?
2- What skills, experiences, and connections would you hope to get out of it?
- What skills and experiences would you bring to the fellowship? (250 word limit)
- This fellowship requires us to meet virtually. What do you anticipate being a challenge around that, and how would you approach it? (250 word limit)
- Is there anything else you want us to know about you? (Optional - leaving this blank will not negatively impact your application) (100 word limit)
IRAP will accept fellowship applications until Sunday, July 6, 2025. Applicants selected for an interview will be contacted by mid-July, and final offers will be made by August 1.
Please reach out to [email protected] with any questions. IRAP will also host an information session about the fellowship on Tuesday, June 17th, at 2 pm ET / 11 am PT. Please fill out this short form if you’re interested in attending the info session or receiving a recording, and we will circulate the Google Meet link.
IRAP is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, IRAP will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please refer to your request in the cover letter.
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.
