Deadline to submit applications: August 13th, 2023.
NATURE OF THE FELLOWSHIP
The fellow will work full-time at a Human Rights First office location in New York City, Washington, D.C. or Los Angeles, with preference for New York City. A willingness to travel to the U.S.-Mexico border region to support research, including through interviews with legal service providers and people seeking asylum in the United States is desired. The refugee protection team’s director and/or senior attorney will supervise and mentor the fellow. Any direct representation of asylum seekers provided by the fellow will be supervised by a senior attorney on the Refugee Representation team. Previous legal fellows with Human Rights First have had the opportunity to, among other things, represent clients in immigration court and before the Asylum Office; engage in representation and advocacy on behalf of detained asylum seekers; conduct research and advocacy on border policies impacting asylum seekers; research and draft reports and recommendations on improving the immigration courts; and draft press releases, policy recommendations, and reports to advocate for systemic change of the asylum system, many of which have been reported in media outlets such as The Los Angeles Times, Washington Post and Buzzfeed News.
Human Rights First is primarily interested in projects that will support our efforts to advance due process and address systemic impediments to access to asylum and access to counsel and fair proceedings in the legal representation and treatment of asylum-seekers during border processes, asylum office interviews, and immigration court hearings, particularly given unlawful restrictions in place by the current asylum ban policy and practices limiting access to counsel in expedited removal.
We will also consider innovative, impactful asylum-related projects outside the delineated areas.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE

• A U.S. law degree (J.D.) by summer 2024;
• Admission to a state bar or pending admission as of fall 2024;
• Previous experience working with people seeking asylum and/or other immigrants, through law school clinics, judicial clerkships, or legal internships;
• Strong written and oral communication skills and a demonstrated ability to translate highly-technical material for a variety of audiences;
• Ability to communicate patiently, respectfully, and empathetically with individuals from a variety of backgrounds;
• Familiarity with U.S. immigration law and policy;
• Ability to take initiative, manage numerous tasks simultaneously, work under pressure and meet deadlines, and identify and analyze legal issues;
• Willingness to travel, including to the U.S.-Mexico border region to conduct research on access to asylum and document the impact of U.S. asylum policies; and
• Fluency in Spanish is required, and fluency in another language, such as an Indigenous language of the Americas, Haitian Creole, or French, is desirable.

Potential legal fellowship candidates who are interested in pursuing placement at Human Rights First may submit their resume and cover letter by going to www.humanrightsfirst.org/careers. In your cover letter, please include a statement indicating whether—if your application for an Equal Justice Works, or other privately-funded, two-year public service fellowship is unsuccessful—your law school funds fellowships for which you might be eligible. If so, please outline the parameters governing this school-funded fellowship. NO PHONECALLS, PLEASE. Only selected applicants will be contacted for an interview.