The Justice & Diversity Center of the Bar Association of San Francisco (JDC) is the largest provider of pro bono legal and related social services to low-income and homeless individuals and families in San Francisco. Through our Immigrant Legal Defense Program (ILDP), we increase access to justice and protect the due process rights of low-income and unrepresented immigrants facing deportation. We help build legal capacity and resources in Northern California so agencies are better coordinated and equipped to defend individuals in deportation proceedings in the San Francisco Immigration Court. ILDP summer interns will be supporting ILDP’s participation in the San Francisco Immigrant Legal Defense Collaborative.

The San Francisco Immigrant Legal Defense Collaborative (SFILDC) is a collective of 16 San Francisco organizations that provide free, high-quality, culturally competent legal services to adults, children, and families in removal proceedings. JDC serves as the SFILDC’s legal lead and provides direct representation, services coordination, legal training, technical assistance, and advocacy support to member agencies.

Our ILDP summer interns will shadow and assist the JDC attorneys and volunteers. They will learn about the general immigration process and the services we provide at JDC, with a focus on the preparation and filing of applications for relief before the San Francisco Immigration Court. Training will focus on substantive areas of asylum and SIJS law. The client facing assignments will focus on assisting pro se respondents with simple applications and motions and assisting clients in preparing their applications and appearing in court. Our summer interns will have the opportunity to attend immigration court hearings as part of their training. Research and writing assignments may be assigned throughout the course of the internship. Fluency in Spanish is required.

This is an unpaid internship.