Legal Fellow

International Refugee Assistance Project•New York, NY

1d•$68,815 - $77,990•Remote

About The Position

IRAP is seeking an attorney with no more than two years of legal experience to join the U.S. Legal Services Department as a Legal Fellow. The fellow will be responsible for providing remote legal services to refugees and other forcibly displaced individuals around the world who are seeking secure and lawful status in the United States, especially through family reunification pathways. The fellow will also be responsible for mentoring pro bono attorneys and law students and contributing to legal information resources, trainings, and clinics to further the U.S. Legal Services Departmentâs impact beyond individual casework. This is an exciting opportunity for an early-career attorney interested in being part of a dynamic legal aid and advocacy organization working to protect refugees and advance their rights. This is a two-year, term-limited position. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Start date will be flexible, with preference for a start date before September 2026.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree and JD or LLM required.
Must be admitted to practice law and in good standing in any jurisdiction in the United States or have a pending application for bar admission in the United States.
No more than two years of legal experience after law school.
Ability to be flexible in a fast-paced and high-pressure work environment.
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, with a preference for experience working in diverse and international work environments.
Ability to work in a culturally sensitive and trauma-informed manner with clients of all backgrounds, including LGBTQ+ clients, survivors of violence, and other vulnerable populations.
Excellent oral and written English skills.

Nice To Haves

Lived and/or professional experience with forced migration is preferred.
Proficiency in a second language is a plus.

Responsibilities

Provide advice and counsel and direct representation to displaced clients around the world; the primary focus of the Legal Fellowâs caseload will be on family reunification cases, but clients may also include refugees seeking resettlement or parole, U.S.-affiliated Afghans seeking Special Immigrant Visas, and individuals in the United States in need of assistance with applications for green cards, naturalization, and other immigration benefits.
Provide mentorship to pro bono attorneys working on cases with IRAP, which will include offering expert advice and reviewing draft submissions to ensure high-quality representation by our pro bono teams.
Create and revise community-facing legal information resources.
Conduct legal trainings and information sessions for diverse audiences.
Communicate with key partner organizations on case referrals and other coordination needs.
Supervise and manage law student volunteers on specific projects.
Collaborate with other programmatic teams at IRAP as needed, including the Global Pro Bono, Litigation, Policy, and Communications departments.
Other duties as assigned.