Legal Intern, Refugee Representation
Human Rights First
| Position: Legal Intern, Refugee Representation | ||
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| Job Id: 896 | ||
| # of Openings: 1 | ||
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| Legal Intern, Refugee Representation - Spring 2026
The D.C. office of Human Rights First seeks motivated legal interns for the Spring 2026 semester to assist in providing pro bono legal representation to asylum seekers before the D.C. Asylum Office and Immigration Courts. Interns will have the opportunity to work directly with clients on interviewing and document drafting and collaborate with attorneys on case strategy. Opportunities to work on direct representation cases include legal strategy, forms completion, advocacy, legal research, and brief writing, among other tasks. Human Rights First is dedicated to inclusivity and will assist interns with externship credit, work-study, or securing funding from external sources. This position is unpaid and will support the D.C. team of HRF and may be performed remotely. A computer and internet connection are required for this position. People of color, women, people with disabilities, and members of the LGBT community are encouraged to apply. How will the intern make a difference in the Human Rights space through this internship? Legal interns meaningfully contribute to the Refugee Representation program, which provides legal assistance to asylum seekers who cannot afford an attorney and need help with a claim for asylum or other humanitarian-based forms of immigration relief. Interns actively engage in furthering Human Rights First mission of working in the United States to promote respect for human rights and the rule of law. Through direct engagement with refugees, legal interns assist in the furtherance of clients’ cases, applying their legal skills to the furtherance of human rights.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Education: Enrollment in an accredited JD or LLM program.. Compensation: Unpaid Start Date: January 20, 2026 End Date: April 24, 2026 Time Commitment: 10-12 hours/week Submission Deadline: November 21, 2025 Application Instructions: Resume, cover letter, & writing sample (no more than 5 pages long) Human Rights First is committed to recruiting, retaining, and developing staff from a diversity of backgrounds, including members of racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQ people, people with disabilities, people of all socioeconomic backgrounds, people of all nationalities, and veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. We believe that a diverse staff and an inclusive work environment that welcomes a range of perspectives make us stronger and more effective. | ||
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