Detained Adult Program Legal Intern

Job Description

About Company

The Amica Center for Immigrant Rights, formerly known as the Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights (CAIR) Coalition, was founded in 1999. The organization has significantly grown, expanding its services and geographic reach beyond its initial scope. The name “Amica” is Latin for “friend,” which reflects the organization’s approach to stand with clients to help them achieve safety, stability, and opportunity.

The Amica Center is the only non-profit organization in the Washington, D.C. area exclusively dedicated to providing legal assistance to adult and child immigrants detained by the government in the Capital Region and beyond. They offer trauma-sensitive, client-centered services, prioritizing clients’ autonomy as they navigate the immigration system.

Job Description: Detained Adult Program (DAP) Legal Intern

The Amica Center for Immigrant Rights is seeking law students for its Legal Internship Program within the Detained Adult Program (DAP). This program focuses on providing information, support, and legal representation to hundreds of adults detained by ICE in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia communities.

Position Details:

• Role: Legal Intern for the Detained Adult Program (DAP).
• Target Applicants: Law students with a strong passion for public interest law and immigrants’ rights. Applicants from historically underrepresented groups are particularly encouraged to apply.
• Commitment: 15-20 hours per week for 10 weeks, commencing on or about January 20, 2026.
• Compensation: Internships are unpaid. However, Amica Center can assist students in obtaining internship credit or external funding.
• Scholarship Opportunity: Prospective Spring 2026 interns are invited to apply for the Amica Center Scholarship. Four $1,000 tax-free scholarships will be distributed to eligible interns for educational and professional development purposes (e.g., tuition, fees, books, supplies, equipment for courses).
• Remote Work: The Spring 2026 internship may be remote, making it accessible to students regardless of geographic location, including those outside the D.C. area. While no in-person work is required, interns may have opportunities for in-office work, in-person meetings, events, and observing/appearing in court, in compliance with Amica Center’s COVID-19 policies.

General Duties and Responsibilities:

Legal Interns will assist staff in representing detained clients in their immigration proceedings. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Conducting legal research and writing to support detained clients applying for immigration relief.
• Performing individualized country conditions research and collecting primary evidence.
• Assisting in the preparation and filing of applications for immigration relief.
• Interpretation and translation assistance (if possible).
• Communication with clients and family members via telephone.
• Attending court hearings and/or visiting clients in detention.
• Client service and communication.
• Evidence collection and assessment.

The Amica Center is committed to ensuring interns gain experience across a wide array of tasks and legal matters within the scope of their work.

Application Process:

Applicants must complete the application via the provided Paylocity link and attach the following materials in .pdf format:

• Cover Letter: Highlighting interest in the position and discussing personal and professional experiences that motivated the application.
• Resume.
• At least 2 References.
• Writing Sample: One writing sample is required and preferred; legal memoranda, briefs, research papers, and articles are accepted.

Important Notes for Application:

• Applicants should apply to ONLY ONE department within Amica Center (e.g., Detained Adult Program or Immigration Impact Lab).
• Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and interviews/offers may be extended before the deadline. Early application is encouraged.
• DEADLINE TO APPLY: October 31, 2025.

Requirements:

Qualifications:

• Currently enrolled in law school.
• Ability to commit 15-20 hours per week.
• Strong interest in human rights, social justice, and immigration rights issues.
• Excellent research and writing skills.
• Ability to work independently and within a team.
• Intellectually curious.
• Willingness to work with individuals from low-income communities who may have criminal histories and/or mental health illnesses.
• Fluency in Spanish or a second language is strongly preferred.

Required Resources (for interns):

• A laptop or computer (Amica Center may provide temporary access as needed).
• Reliable internet.
• A phone.