Overview

The Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem (NDS) is a community-based, client-centered, holistic public defense office providing free legal representation to residents of Northern Manhattan in criminal, civil, and family proceedings.

NDS seeks a rising 2L or 3L law student to join the Immigration Defense Team in Fall 2024 as a part-time legal intern on a volunteer basis. As part of NDS’ commitment to holistic representation, the Immigration Defense Team defends Northern Manhattan residents facing removal due to contact with the criminal legal system. In addition to representing clients in removal proceedings, the Immigration Defense Team advises attorneys in our Criminal Defense Practice on the immigration consequences of a criminal conviction. The practice also represents clients in a number of affirmative applications such naturalization, adjustment of status, work permit applications, and more, primarily for clients with criminal history. The legal intern will be involved in client intake, legal research on questions of criminal/immigration law and direct client representation in removal proceedings and affirmative applications.

Responsibilities

NDS is looking for law student interns with a demonstrated commitment to immigration defense and social justice issues, particularly at the intersection of the criminal and immigration systems. Interns must have completed at least one year of relevant legal education. In addition, the internship requires energy, enthusiasm, a commitment to excellence and an unwavering commitment to clients. Foreign language fluency, especially Spanish, is strongly preferred. Relevant immigration legal coursework or clinic experience is preferred.

Qualifications

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resume as one PDF through NDS’s website at neighborhooddefender.org/careers. We will be accepting applications on a rolling basis. For more information about NDS, please visit our website at www.ndsny.org.

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