Summer Law Clerk

SUMMER LAW CLERK (Focus: Somali Asylum Support)

Posted: May 1, 2026 (applications accepted on rolling basis)

Hines Immigration Law, PLLC is seeking a seasonal law clerk to support a high-volume Somali asylum docket for the months of May, June, July, August, and/or September 2026, with the potential to perhaps extend into the fall or beyond.

Hines Immigration Law serves and represents asylum seekers and torture survivors from various areas of the world, including many clients fleeing persecution in Somalia.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) recently launched what has come to be called the “Somali Rocket Docket.” The Agency started unilaterally accelerating the vast majority of Somali asylum-seekers’ pending immigration court cases (“deportation proceedings”), advancing final hearings that were set for 2027/2028 or setting hearings that were not yet scheduled, now suddenly allowing just a few weeks’ of preparation time for their final trial. Non-Somali respondents’ cases continue to proceed on standard non-detained timelines, with a year or longer between hearing notice and hearing deadline. Such a nationality-focused priority policy is unprecedented in the 43-year history of the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). Our team is growing to meet this need for our current clients and to ensure that they continue to receive the best possible hearing preparation, in spite of these challenges. Now is the time for us to build as strong of documentary records as possible for our clients’ cases before these rapidly-approaching recently-set deadlines.

Hines Immigration Law is a small, collaborative firm committed to providing thoughtful, honest, high-quality legal representation in an area of law that is complex and deeply human. Our team prioritizes open communication, honesty, and care. We show up for our clients, and for each other, with intention, humility, and respect. Our practice focuses on humanitarian and family-based immigration, including asylum, removal defense, special immigrant juvenile status (SIJS), family reunification, and citizenship. Many of our clients have experienced significant hardship and trauma, and this role requires not just technical skill but genuine empathy, cultural competency, and the ability to connect with clients in a respectful and grounded way.

This role is specifically tailored for law clerk assistance with Somali asylum cases. The role is designed for someone who can step in quickly and contribute meaningfully to this fast-moving docket. Prior experience with asylum law and Somali language fluency are both strongly preferred, but not formally required. Comfort working with trauma-impacted clients will be essential. We’re looking for someone who is detail-oriented, adaptable, and comfortable working in a dynamic environment where priorities can shift quickly. If you’re someone who can jump in, support a team under pressure, and approach this work with both professionalism and compassion, we’d love to hear from you, and we’d love for you to join us in this fight!

Anticipated Tasks:

- Legal research on issues concerning U.S. asylum law: persecution standard, PSG formulations, nexus, Circumvention of Lawful Pathways, reasonableness of internal relocation, firm resettlement, government inability/unwillingness to control non-state actor, well-founded fear standards and application, other serious harms for humanitarian asylum, etc.

- Legal memorandum/briefing drafting support for Somali asylum cases

- Option to help prepare/shadow/attend individual calendar hearings

- Communicating with clients by phone, text, email, and in-person meetings

- Weekly team meetings

- Client interviewing

- Witness interviewing

- Evidence review and discussions

- Affidavit drafting

- Witness statement drafting

- Updating (“red-lining” or “green-lining”) applications

- Reviewing evidence / affidavits / documents

- Preparing exhibits for Immigration Court

- Coordinating between clients, colleagues, and justice partners (psychologists / social workers for PTSD evaluations, physicians for Forensic Medical Evaluations, etc.)

Qualifications:

- Empathy, cultural competency, passion for supporting immigrant communities (required)

- Comfort working with trauma-impacted clients (required)

- Somali speaker (preferred) or comfort working effectively through interpreters (required)

- Coursework, law school clinic involvement, or prior experience in immigration law / asylum law (preferred)

Other:

- Anticipated pay: $22-25/hr (depending on experience/qualifications)

- 40hrs/wk preferred; part-time options possible depending on applicant pool

- Non-exempt (eligible for 1.5x overtime pay available if desired)

- Potential for transition into full-time role

- Office is in Roseville, MN; hybrid work options available

- Hines Immigration Law is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applicants from communities reflective of those we serve.

Please send a copy of your resume and cover letter to brian@hinesimmigration.com if this is a position that may interest you. In your cover letter, please tell us about your interest in immigration/asylum work and any experience with trauma-impacted communities.

Pay: $22.00 - $25.00 per hour

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Saint Paul, MN 55113

Salary : $22 - $25