Legal Intern, Refugee Representation

Human Rights First • Los Angeles, CA

5d • Remote

About The Position

Legal Intern, Refugee Representation - Summer 2026 The Los Angeles office of Human Rights First seeks motivated legal interns for the Summer 2026 semester to assist in providing pro bono legal representation to asylum seekers before the Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles 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.

Requirements

• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and creative problem-solving skills with the ability to manage multiple deadlines at once
• Legal research and writing skills, particularly in immigration law, federal circuit law, agency decisions, and federal regulations
• Dedicated interest and passion for immigration advocacy and protecting the rights of migrants
• Experience working with vulnerable populations and survivors of trauma
• Ability to work collaboratively with staff, clients, and community organizations
• Motivated to work independently to manage multiple tasks on important deadlines
• Enrollment in an accredited JD or LLM program

Nice To Haves

• Fluency in a second language, particularly Spanish, French, or Russian, is a plus

Responsibilities

• Client interviewing
• Conduct intake interviews with potential clients
• Draft case summaries
• Work with Human Rights First staff on asylum cases, providing support with draft declarations, briefs, legal memorandum, and other legal advocacy efforts
• Assist with preparing and filing forms for affirmative immigration relief with Human Rights First clients, including asylum applications, family reunification petitions, employment authorization applications, temporary protected status, and applications for permanent residency
• Conduct legal research in developing areas of immigration law and country conditions for analysis and reporting
• Attend legal trainings, advocacy groups, and discussion panels in the greater Los Angeles area and virtually

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern