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International Refugee Assistance Project
New York, NY, USA
USD 17-17 / hour
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.
The Fellowship is based in the US (remote within the United States).
The expected time commitment is 10-15 hours per week.
This Fellowship requires travel to IRAP’s office in New York City for one 3-day retreat in September/October.
This Fellowship does not require office availability.
Application Instructions
Please submit:
An updated resume, and
A written response to the questions below, instead of a cover letter.
IRAP will accept fellowship applications until Sunday, July 5, 2026. Applicants selected for an interview will be contacted by mid-July, and final offers will be made by August 1. Please reach out to probono@refugeerights.org with any questions. IRAP will also host an information session about the fellowship on Thursday, June 18th, at 2 pm ET / 11 am PT. Please fill out this short form if you’re interested in attending the info session or receiving a recording, and we will circulate the Google Meet link.
IRAP is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, IRAP will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please refer to your request in the cover letter.
Application Question Instructions:
Please answer the following questions in a separate document and observe the provided word limits. We strongly recommend that you consider and incorporate the information in this job description into your answers. Please note that while we welcome you to share personal, lived experiences in your answers if you so wish, that is not at all required for this application. We are selecting fellows based on their interest in our work, their skills and experiences, and their understanding of this fellowship and how it fits into their overall career goals.
Name:
Law School:
Have you completed the 1L Year? (Yes/No):
IRAP’s mission statement is as follows: IRAP is a global legal aid and advocacy organization working to create a world where refugees and all people seeking safety are empowered to claim their right to freedom of movement and a path to lasting refuge. Everyone should have a safe place to live and a safe way to get there. What interests you in our mission? (250-word limit)
Why are you interested in this fellowship? (250-word limit)
Some questions to consider:
How would this fellowship contribute to your future goals?
What skills, experiences, and connections would you hope to get out of it?
Which substantive fellowship area (US Legal Services, U.S. Policy, or Global Climate Migration) are you interested in working in and why? (250-word limit)
What skills and experiences would you bring to the fellowship? (250-word limit)
This fellowship requires us to meet virtually. What do you anticipate being a challenge around that, and how would you approach it? (250-word limit)
Is there anything else you want us to know about you? (optional - leaving this blank will not negatively impact your application) (100-word limit)
