2025 Summer Legal Internship
International Refugee Assistance Project
Legal
Beirut, Lebanon
Posted on Apr 11, 2025
About IRAP
The International Refugee Assistance Project (“IRAP”) is a dynamic and growing legal, policy, and advocacy organization that works to develop and enforce a system of legal and human rights for refugees and displaced people around the world. We are the leading organization that provides free and comprehensive legal services to people we serve through registration, protection, and resettlement processes.
IRAP operates offices in the U.S. (New York City and Washington DC), Jordan (Amman), Germany (Berlin) and Lebanon (Beirut). Our legal services are supplemented by a corps of pro bono lawyers from leading U.S. and international law firms and multinational corporations, and law students who have created IRAP chapters across the United States and Canada. Through this work, we aim to assist refugees and other displaced people to find safe passage and to transform the landscape of refugee rights in the U.S. and internationally. We are a nimble organization staffed by an innovative and collaborative team that is committed to high standards of quality and close partnerships with our clients, peers, and colleagues.
The IRAP Lebanon Office is located in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. Our team consists of the Senior Country Director, the Director of Lebanon Legal Service, Senior Office and Accounts Manager, Casework Specialist, Caseworker, two Senior Staff Attorneys, and Humanitarian Assistance Specialist. Our work is centered on providing remote and in-person legal assistance with refugee resettlement and family reunification through United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) referrals, the United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), and relocation through alternative pathways.
Opportunity
IRAP is seeking two law students for Summer 2025 internships. Legal Interns will work at IRAP’s field office in Beirut under the supervision of our team of attorneys. This is an exciting opportunity for individuals interested in refugees, human rights, and/or refugee, immigration, and international law to make a difference in the lives of those at risk.
Responsibilities
- Conducting intake interviews with refugees to determine needs and refugee claims;
- Drafting legal briefs and memos in English in support of at-risk and vulnerable refugee cases;
- Preparing evidence for cases submitted to UNHCR and directly to governments;
- Researching law and global country and human rights conditions to reinforce clients’ legal claims;
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- Education
- Pursuing a degree in law.
- Values, Competencies, and Skills
- Interest in refugee law and/or refugee resettlement processing, human rights, and international law.
- Highly organized and motivated, able to multitask, manage a high volume workload, and have excellent time management 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.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Suite.
- Fluency in oral and written English required.
- Fluency in oral Arabic required.
Internship-related Requirements
- The internship is based in Beirut.
- This internship doesn't require traveling.
- This internship requires partial office availability.
- The intern should be a Lebanese national residing in Lebanon or a legal resident in Lebanon from the beginning of June 2nd, 2025.
Application
Please submit the following:
- Cover letter,
- Resume,
- Short legal writing sample (3-5 pages) in English written without assistance from AI tools,
- A list of 2-3 references.
Interested applicants are encouraged to apply. The deadline for applying is the 27th of April 2025.
We will only review complete applications submitted through this link.
Duration:
This internship is for 10 weeks, starting June through August 2025. And requires (30) hours per week.
Compensation:
Interns will be compensated with the sum of USD 2000 for the 10-week internship of (30) Hours per Week.
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.