Legal Intern, Refugee Representation - Summer 2026 - Washington DC or Remote

Legal Intern, Refugee Representation - Summer 2026  · The Washington, D.C. 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 D.C. Asylum Office and Immigration ...

Job description

Legal Intern, Refugee Representation - Summer 2026 

The Washington, D.C. 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 D.C. 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 D.C. 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. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

Interns have the opportunity to engage in client interviewing, to conduct intake interviews with potential clients, and to draft case summaries.   

Interns will work with Human Rights First staff on asylum cases, providing support with draft declarations, briefs, legal memorandum, and other legal advocacy efforts.   

Interns will 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.  

Interns will conduct legal research in developing areas of immigration law and country conditions for analysis and reporting.  

Interns will have opportunities to attend legal trainings, advocacy groups, and discussion panels in the greater D.C. area and virtually. 

Desired Skills and Experience

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, administrative law, federal law, and federal regulations  

Dedicated interest and passion for immigration advocacy, direct client representation, 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 and deadlines  

Fluency in a second language, particularly Spanish, is a plus 

Education: Enrollment in an accredited JD or LLM program..  

Compensation: Unpaid 

Submission Deadline: March 20, 2026
Start Date: May 26, 2026
End Date: August 14, 2026
Time Commitment: 15-20 hours per week  

Application Instructions: Resume, cover letter, & writing sample (no more than 5 pages long) 

Human Rights First is committed to recruiting, retaining, and developing staff from a diversity of backgrounds, including members of racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQ people, people with disabilities, people of all socioeconomic backgrounds, people of all nationalities, and veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. We believe that a diverse staff and an inclusive work environment that welcomes a range of perspectives make us stronger and more effective.