Children's Legal Intern (Unpaid)

International Rescue Committee•New York, NY

11d•Hybrid

About The Position

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future. TITLE: NY Children’s Legal Internship LOCATION: New York, NY START DATE: SPRING 2026 DURATION: June 1st - August 21st (Hybrid) POSITION REPORTS TO: Jessica Lazo BACKGROUND: International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. At work in more than 40 countries and over 20 U.S. cities, the IRC provides resettlement, education and empowerment support to refugees and displaced people. SCOPE OF WORK (Children’s Legal Intern): The Children’s Legal Services (CLS) program in New York provides legal representation to unaccompanied children. To be eligible for services, unaccompanied children must be under the age of 18 at the time they enter the CLS program, have no immigration status, and, at same time, have been officially designated as an unaccompanied child by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). We help them understand the immigration systems, prepare them for hearings, evaluate and advise them on the types of immigration applications they can file, and assist them with preparing their filings. Many cases will also involve hearings in NY state court, and we provide preparation and representation for those hearings as well.

Requirements

Must be in enrolled in and have completed 1L at an ABA-accredited law school.
Proficiency in Spanish is strongly preferred.
Must have a demonstrated passion for working with children and/or low-to- moderate income immigrant populations (including refugees, asylum seekers, etc.).
Must be motivated, flexible, able to manage time effectively, and able to work independently as well as within a dynamic team.
Must successfully complete IRC orientation and full background check (Live Scan & HireRight).

Responsibilities

Support in building and fostering relationships with our young clients by participating in client meetings.
Provide administrative support to the Children’s Legal Services team, including checking for upcoming court hearings, communicating regularly with clients, preparing applications, drafting supporting documents, and support in filing with appropriate agencies.
Perform research on immigration issues, country conditions, etc.
Partake in online immigration law trainings and webinars.
Assist in tapping into other IRC NY programs to get additional support for clients when needed, such as educational resources, etc.

Benefits

10 sick days
10 US holidays
20-25 paid time off days depending on role and tenure
medical insurance starting at $163 per month
dental starting at $6.50 per month
vision starting at $5 per month
FSA for healthcare and commuter costs
a 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching
disability & life insurance
an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.