Legal Intern, New York – Asylum Law

Job Description

Legal Intern | HIAS Europe

The Tone:
This is a paid internship at HIAS, located in New York, NY. HIAS is dedicated to providing direct legal services to asylum seekers, focusing on humanitarian relief. This role is crucial for supporting HIAS’ direct legal services programs by conducting essential research, drafting legal filings, and preparing various claims. Through this experience, the intern will gain valuable knowledge of United States immigration law and the practice of law within a nonprofit environment.

The TL;DR
• Role: Internship
• Type: Part-time (15 hours/week for 12 weeks, beginning August/September 2026)
• Location: In-person, New York, NY
• Pay: $900 monthly
• Team: Reports to the Senior Staff Attorney; collaborates with the in-house Legal and Pro Bono teams.
• Mission: Assists HIAS’ direct legal services programs which benefit asylum seekers by providing legal support and drafting filings.

What You’ll Actually Do
• Research: Conduct thorough legal and factual research on topics assigned by HIAS Attorneys to support various immigration cases.
• Writing: Draft memorandums, briefs, and other essential documents in support of HIAS’ immigration legal cases before relevant authorities.
• Client Engagement: Develop client declarations and complete application forms through direct interviews with asylum seekers and other clients.
• Case Support: Assist the legal team in the comprehensive preparation and presentation of asylum claims (both affirmative and defensive), as well as special immigrant juvenile, U-visa, and T-Visa cases.
• Documentation: Maintain accurate records and contribute to program reports, ensuring full compliance with applicable grants or other agreements.

The Must-Haves
• Background: A current law student (specifically a 2L or 3L) or a recent law graduate with a demonstrated strong interest in asylum law and/or processing, human rights, and international law.
• Experience: The role requires a keen interest in humanitarian relief and the practice of law in a nonprofit setting, with a focus on learning United States immigration law.
• Skills:
1. Resourceful, thorough, and analytical approach to developing information and obtaining relevant materials for research.
2. Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills for effective interaction with clients and legal teams.
3. Strong organizational and problem-solving skills to manage casework and responsibilities efficiently.
• Bonus: Fluency in Spanish, French, and/or Russian is strongly preferred due to the nature of client interactions.