IRAP Law Student Fellowship 2026-2027 in New York, New York at Project International Refugee Assistance Project

Opportunity

This fellowship is an opportunity for law students who have lived experience of displacement or marginalization to support the work of an organization leveraging legal and advocacy tools to assist people who are forcibly displaced. Students who are passionate about immigration and are looking for further opportunities to explore the field are encouraged to apply.

Over the course of the academic year, student fellows will receive training and work assignments to increase their substantive knowledge, familiarity with IRAP’s work, and lawyering skills. This year, each fellow will be assigned to either our Policy or US Legal Services teams and work with that department for the majority of their fellowship experience. The expected time commitment is 10-15 hours per week, which will include a combination of trainings, mentorship, and legal casework and projects. The fellowship schedule will be adjusted during exam periods and include a winter break.

Student fellows will be trained on client work skills, legal research, inclusion and accessibility, meaningful refugee participation, the U.S. refugee landscape, and more. Fellows will be exposed to a variety of IRAP’s case types, including but not limited to family reunification, Special Immigrant Visas (SIV), the US Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), climate-related asylum claims, and applying for protection at the U.S.-Mexico border. Fellows will also have mentorship and networking opportunities to explore careers in this field, both at IRAP and our partner organizations.

While the fellowship will be fully remote, fellows will travel for one 3-day retreat in September/October to IRAP’s NYC office, with all expenses covered by IRAP.

• Attend trainings on relevant law, policies, and legal pathways

• Participate in skills-building trainings such as client interviewing, writing affidavits, and legal ethics

• Attend regular meetings with fellowship cohort, task supervisors, and assigned mentors

• Participate in one 3-day trip to IRAP’s office in New York City in September/October (all expenses will be covered by IRAP).

• Support IRAP’s work, including by:

For legal services fellows:

Supporting the direct representation of forcibly displaced people and their family members seeking safe passage to the United States by drafting memos, applications briefs, conducting fact-finding, and interviewing clients;

Conducting intake interviews and identifying client needs for direct services.

For Policy fellows:

One fellow will be assigned to support IRAP’s global policy work regarding climate migration. This work will include research assignments, drafting and editing assignments related to position papers or proposals, assistance with creating presentations, potentially work with IRAP’s refugee-led organizational partners exploring climate migration issues as opportunities arise, and similar tasks.

One fellow will be assigned to support IRAP’s U.S. policy work, including advocacy on behalf of Afghans, TPS holders, and refugees both already in and seeking safety in the United States. This will include research, drafting, and editing documents intended for Congressional and/or media audiences, and assisting with policy proposals to support a future in which refugees are welcomed to lasting safety in the United States.

• Participating in discrete special projects, including legal clinics providing assistance to client communities as opportunities arise;

• Conducting outreach to affected communities, preparing and disseminating know-your-rights materials, pro se resources, and participating in public education efforts;

• Contributing as needed to the work of other programmatic departments, such as participating in litigation efforts as appropriate, conducting legal research, and drafting and updating legal practitioner guides.

Work responsibilities will be tailored as much as possible to each fellow’s interests.

• Education:

• Have completed 1L year at a U.S.-based law school, or the equivalent in an evening program.

• Values, Competencies, and Skills:

• Strong interest in the immigration field;

• Relevant skills and experience for the fellowship responsibilities;

• Clear vision for how the fellowship fits into overall career goals;

• Commitment to the full academic year program; and

• Ability to work independently and be accountable in a remote setting.