ImmigrationProf Blog

Maggio Summer Fellowship - applications open until February 10, 2023!

Maggio Summer Fellowship - applications open until February 10, 2023! The application for the 2023 Maggio Immigrants’ Rights Summer Fellowship Program is now accepting applications. Michael Maggio was an extraordinary immigration attorney with a passion for social justice. As an attorney, he took up the defense of asylum-seeking Central Americans threatened with deportation and worked on the landmark Filartiga v. Pena case in 1980. While he sadly lost his battle with cancer in 2008, his passion for helping the most vulnerable continues through this annual Fellowship, strengthening law students’ long-term commitment to promoting justice and equality for vulnerable immigrant groups. Organized and funded by AILA, the National Immigration Project, and the Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law, the Fellowship is awarded to one law student each summer to work on a student-initiated project. For consideration, each student must submit a project proposal with an organization willing to host the student for 10 weeks and provide a $1,500 stipend. The $1,500 amount may be paid by the host organization or may be provided by the law student through other means, e.g., law school public interest funding, independent fundraising, etc. The Maggio Immigrants' Rights Fellowship will provide an additional $2,500 stipend for a total award of $4,000. More details may be found on the Maggio Fellowship website. On top of this stipend, the Maggio Fellowship also offers complimentary registration to national immigration conferences. For more information on the application and to learn more about the impressive work of past fellows, visit http://maggiofellowship.org. The deadline is February 10, 2023. If you have any questions, please contact me at elynum@aila.org. Thank you!

KJ

Jewish Family Service (JFS) in San Diego Seeks Staff Attorney

Here is a job posting for Jewish Family Service (JFS) in San Diego that may be of interest to blog readers.  "JFS is looking for a compassionate, mission-driven individual to join the Immigration Legal Services Department on a new Afghan Legal Services program as an Immigration Staff Attorney."  Click here for details.

KJ

NIJC Schreiber Fellowships - Fall 2023-2025

NIJC is proud to continue its Schreiber Legal Fellowship Program through the generosity of John and Kathy Schreiber. Two selected fellows will provide legal representation to immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers for two years. NIJC provides legal representation to thousands of detained and non-detained immigrants each year and draws on its legal services to advance systemic reform. Through the Schreiber Fellowships, NIJC seeks to invest in the next generation of diverse legal advocates. To that end, NIJC will consider applications from graduating law students or recent graduates who demonstrate a strong commitment to pursuing a long-term career in the immigrant rights movement. NIJC strongly encourages applications from people with lived experiences in immigrant communities, members of marginalized communities, and individuals from communities that are underrepresented in the legal profession. Individuals with a strong interest in immigration issues but with limited prior experience will be considered.

Both fellowships will begin immediately following Labor Day in September 2023, and will run through the end of August 2025. Applications for the fellowship are due on or before February 28, 2023. Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications in advance of the deadline. Each fellows’ geographic location will be at one of NIJC’s offices in Chicago, Indiana, San Diego, or Washington, D.C. Applicants should state their geographic preference in their application materials. NIJC continues to work using a hybrid model and expects to do so in the coming years. At the end of the fellowship, fellows will be eligible to seek permanent employment with NIJC and will receive strong consideration for any open position at NIJC.

Eligibility

Graduates of any ABA accredited law school are eligible to apply. The fellowship is open to current 3Ls and attorneys who have graduated within the last three years. Applicants must be a member of any bar or must sit for the bar examination prior to the start of the fellowship. Although fluency in a second language is not required, applicants who are able to speak another language should be sure to address that skill in their application materials.

Pay And Other Benefits

The salary will be based on the number of years of relevant experience since law school graduation, according to the pay scale that governs this position. As a program of Heartland Alliance, NIJC offers excellent benefits.

Application Information

Applications will be accepted until February 28, 2023. Please use this link to apply: https://immigrantjustice.org/schreiber-fellowships-fall-2023

Job Announcement: Rutgers Immigrant Rights Clinic

Rutgers Immigrant Rights Clinic seeks Staff Attorney or Senior Staff Attorney 

The Detention and Deportation Defense Initiative (DDDI) at the Immigrant Rights Clinic, Rutgers Law School in Newark, New Jersey, is seeking to hire an experienced attorney in a full-time Staff Attorney position. Depending on the candidate’s level of experience, the position could be classified as a Senior Staff Attorney. DDDI is funded by the state of New Jersey to provide legal representation to detained and non-detained New Jersey residents facing removal before the Immigration Courts, Board of Immigration Appeals, and federal courts. The Rutgers Immigrant Rights Clinic is one of four partners in this exciting project, aimed at ensuring that indigent immigrants in New Jersey have high quality pro bono representation in their removal proceedings. 

The Staff Attorney will work with the Managing Attorney and other staff in the DDDI project. They will maintain an active docket of detained and non-detained clients. The Staff Attorney will also supervise law graduates working as DDDI Fellows and nonclinical law student interns providing assistance with the project, and may have other supervisory and mentoring responsibilities. The position will benefit from the support of a full-time paralegal, devoted exclusively to this project.  

Position requirements:  

• A law degree;  
• At least three years’ experience representing immigrants, preferably detained immigrants, before the immigration courts, Board of Immigration Appeals, and the federal courts (including law school clinics and legal internships); 
• Membership in a bar of any state (NJ bar membership is not required, though it is a plus);  
• Strong written and oral communication skills; fluency in another language, particularly Spanish or French, strongly preferred (though not required); 
• Interest in and/or commitment to mentoring and supervising law graduates and students; 
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, team environment;  
• Demonstrated time management, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills; 
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail; 
• Familiarity with case management systems such as CLIO, preferred. 

This is a full-time, year-round position. The salary will range from $75,000-95,000, depending on experience, and includes excellent benefits through Rutgers University. The Immigrant Rights Clinic is housed at Rutgers Law School in Newark, a short train ride or drive away from New York City. Generally, the Staff Attorney will be expected to be in the office 3 days/week and may elect to work remotely up to 2 days/week.  

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, list of references, and unofficial transcript. The cover letter should address all of the position requirements listed above.  

To apply, go to: https://jobs.rutgers.edu/postings/186703 

Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, military service or any other category protected by law. As an institution, we value diversity of background and opinion, and prohibit discrimination or harassment on the basis of any legally protected class in the areas of hiring, recruitment, promotion, transfer, demotion, training, compensation, pay, fringe benefits, layoff, termination or any other terms and conditions of employment. 

Portrait of Asian Americans in the Legal Profession 2.0

The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), in collaboration with the American Bar Foundation, recently released  A Portrait of Asian Americans in the Law 2.0: Identity and Action in Challenging Times (Portrait Project 2.0). Five years ago, I was very moved by the original Portrait Project report and worked with the Asian Pacific American Bar Association and Asian Pacific American Law Students Association in Colorado to bring the primary author, California Supreme Court Justice Goodwin Liu, to Colorado during a snowstorm. This follow-up study is just as good and even more necessary.  

The updated report (77 pages) combines detailed analysis of employment data in various legal sectors to gain insight into Asian American career advancement and political participation. It is based on interviews, focus groups, and a national survey completed by over 700 Asian American lawyers. 

Some of the key findings: 

• Asian American attorneys are more engaged with social and political issues than in 2016. Those seeking to change their legal practice areas ranked a desire to advance issues important to them among their most significant reasons for doing so. (This was previously ranked among the least significant reasons). 
• Nearly half of Asian American attorneys (47% of survey respondents) became more involved in community organizations, protests, or other forms of advocacy specifically on behalf of Asian Americans since March 2020. 
• Although there is underrepresentation of Asian American attorneys in the top ranks of the legal progression, there has been progress in the appointment of federal judges (from 3.4% to 6%) and as general counsel. While Asian Americans are the largest minority group at major law firms, they have the lowest ratio of partners to associates and remain underrepresented among law clerks, law professors, state court judges, and state and federal prosecutors.

Read the full report here.

MHC

White landowners in Hawaii imported Russian workers in the early 1900s, to dilute the labor power of Asians in the islands

I learned something from this contribution ("White landowners in Hawaii imported Russian workers in the early 1900s, to dilute the labor power of Asians in the islands") in the Conversation. Stepan Serdiukov, Ph.D. candidate in U.S. history at Indiana University, writes about how, in the territory of Hawaii, landowners wanting to become a state brought workers to the islands from Russia.

KJ

CALS Graduate Teaching Fellowships

2023-2025 Clinical Teaching Fellowship

The Center for Applied Legal Studies (CALS) at Georgetown Law announces that it is now accepting applications for its annual fellowship program in clinical legal education. CALS will offer one lawyer a two‑year teaching fellowship (July 2023‑June 2025), providing a unique opportunity to learn how to teach law in a clinical setting.

This fellowship is particularly suitable for lawyers with some degree of practice experience who now want to embark upon careers in law teaching. 

Since 1995, CALS has specialized in immigration law, specifically in asylum practice, and in immigration court and in asylum adjudications by the Department of Homeland Security. Applicants with experience in U.S. immigration law will therefore be given preference. The fellow must be a member of a bar at the start of the fellowship period.

The fellow will receive full tuition and fees in the LL.M. program at Georgetown University, and a stipend of 57,000 in the first year and 60,000 in the second year. On successful completion of the requirements, the Fellow will be granted the degree of Master of Laws (Advocacy) with distinction.

The faculty members directing CALS are Andrew Schoenholtz and Philip Schrag.

To apply, send a resume, an official or unofficial law school transcript, a writing sample, and a detailed statement of interest (approximately 5 pages). The materials must arrive by December 1, 2022. The statement should address: a) why you are interested in this fellowship; b) what you can contribute to the Clinic; c) your experience with asylum and other immigration cases; d) your professional or career goals for the next five or ten years; e) your reactions to the Clinic’s goals and teaching methods as described on its website anything else that you consider pertinent. Address your application to Directors, Center for Applied Legal Studies, Georgetown Law, 600 New Jersey Avenue, NW, Suite 332, Washington, D.C. 20001, or electronically to lawcalsclinic@georgetown.edu.

IE

Job Announcement: Houston Law Center Immigration Clinic Director

It's time to update your resume! The Houston Law Center is looking for a new immigration clinic director.

The University of Houston Law Center (UHLC) invites applications for a promotion-eligible, non-tenure track clinical assistant/associate professor position and Director of the Immigration Clinic for the academic year 2023-2024. The contract is for nine months, 9/1/2023 to 5/31/2024, the "FY 24 Contract," beginning when classes start in late August 2023 and continuing through the middle of May 2024.

The Immigration Clinic handles all types of family‐based and humanitarian cases, with emphasis on asylum, withholding of removal, and Convention Against Torture cases, in addition to other violence‐related claims, such as Violence Against Women’s Act, Special Immigrant Juvenile cases, humanitarian parole, and crime victims (U visas). The clinic also handles T visas, and has helped in a variety of Crimmigration cases where the respondents were detained in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention and needed a habeas petition in federal district court.

The Immigration Clinic has a classroom component that meets for two hours a week for 14 weeks over the course of the semester. The classroom component focuses on teaching advocacy skills and substantive immigration law to equip students to represent immigrants before the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice's Executive Office for Immigration Review and other federal agencies.

The position will cover the classroom component of the clinical instruction and the case supervision component. The position will also supervise at least two staff attorneys and manage grants that fund the clinic’s work.

More details are at this link. Good luck future Cougars!

-Kit

ABA Administrative Law Fellowship Seeking Practitioners Who Want to Be Law Professors

The American Bar Association’s Section of Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice is inviting applications for its ABA Administrative Law Fellowship. The fellowship, established in 2021, aims to diversify the cohort of legal academics in administrative law and regulatory practice by positioning lawyers currently in practice to be successful job candidates in the academic market. The fellowship is a two-year program that pairs fellows with mentors in the legal academy and provides other support for entry into legal teaching. 

The goal of the mentoring match is to assist fellows with developing a research agenda, job-talk paper, and other application materials for the legal academic job market (doctrinal and clinical). The program will also provide some general training on research methods and strategy. The program seeks to affiliate fellows with a law school to provide access to online research and publication resources. Fellows will have the opportunity to present their work in connection with the Section’s annual Fall Conference. The fellowship will provide up to $1,500 a year to defer the costs of travel and accommodations for participation in the Section’s Fall Conference and hiring conferences, as well as membership in the ABA and the Section.

The ABA is seeking “lawyers with scholarly promise and a strong interest in teaching who would contribute to the diversity of the legal academy in the fields of administrative law and/or regulatory practice.” Fellows are expected to be employed full-time in legal practice. Application materials should include:

1.  A cover letter that explains the candidate’s interest in the fellowship and how the candidate fits the fellowship criteria, including a diversity statement, and addresses why the candidate believes this fellowship opportunity is better suited to their circumstances than a full-time law school-run fellowship or Visiting Assistant Professor position, and identifies at least two references.
2. A resume.
3. A writing sample, which may be material produced for legal practice, a blog, an article, a report, or other written work.

Applications are due on or before Monday, August 15, 2022, and should be sent via e-mail with attachments in pdf format to anne.kiefer@americanbar.org. If you have questions about the fellowship or the application, please direct them to Professor Kevin Stack, Chair of the ABA’s Program for Prospective Administrative Law Scholars, at kevin.stack@vanderbilt.edu.

Having mentored Haiyun Damon-Feng, a fellow in the first cohort whose straddled immigration and administrative law and seen her move into a Visiting Assistant Professorship at my alma mater NYU Law, I can say that the program is finding good people and putting them in good places!

MHC

Job Announcement: Executive Director of the Binger Center for New Americans (U. of Minn.)

The University of Minnesota Law School seeks a visionary leader, committed to immigration advocacy and justice, to lead the Binger Center for New Americans. The Executive Director is the primary staff administrator responsible for (1) leading the Center in the ongoing development and implementation of its vision and core mission, especially the Education & Outreach Program, (2) leading partnership collaboration and communication necessary to promote and engage in the Center’s work, and (3) fostering connections with a broad constituency of networks, community partners and immigrant advocates in the region and nationally. The Executive Director works in collaboration with the Center’s faculty director and engages clinical faculty, staff, and law students together with the Center’s partners and stakeholders, the Director of the Law Clinics, and Law School leadership in order to set and carry out the Center’s priorities.

The Center’s Education and Outreach Program connects the Center’s clinics to community needs and goals, which inform the development of the Center’s programs and litigation to protect immigrants and impact the immigration system. Through legal education, organizing, pro bono legal services, and capacity building, the Education and Outreach Program supports community efforts to break down systemic barriers and empower communities.

The Executive Director will be a skilled and experienced community-driven leader, with expertise in immigration advocacy and a thoughtful eye for partnership opportunities to advance immigrant rights work across the Law School, the Twin Cities community and beyond. They will be adept at encouraging broad community-building, engagement, and action-oriented results.

Job Duties:

Lead and Implement Strategic Planning & Initiatives – 20%

• Lead the overall vision, strategic planning, and execution of initiatives for the Binger Center, in partnership with the Binger Center’s faculty director, clinical faculty, and staff, partners, and stakeholders, as well as the broader Clinic and Law School leadership.
• Engage and foster connections with a broad constituency of networks, community partners and immigrant advocates in the region and nationally with Binger Center initiatives.
• Develop partnership opportunities to advance the Binger Center’s work across the Law School, the Twin Cities community and beyond.
• Engage in development opportunities, in partnership with the Law School’s Advancement team, that align with the Binger Center’s and Law School’s needs.

Direct the Education & Outreach Program - 50%

• Direct the Binger Center’s Education and Outreach Program and the program’s initiatives, including supervising the Community Outreach & Program Coordinator.
• Provide oversight and implement the Education and Outreach programs alongside Center outreach staff and law students and volunteers. A range of activities include: large-scale community workshops to designed to help immigrants understand their legal rights, working collaboratively with community partners to develop advisories, guides, and other tools to support new immigrants and the agencies that serve them, an annual full-day continuing legal education conference, educational seminars designed to train pro bono lawyers and law students for immigration-related public service, general public events, and student-led presentations.
• Lead existing Education and Outreach programs, including: Rural Immigrant Access Initiative, Afghan Evacuee Project, Translation and Interpretation Program, Human Rights Defender Court Observation Project, and law student service learning trips.
• Lead or, in partnership with an adjunct faculty member, manage the semester-long Rural Immigrant Access Clinic, including working with clinical law students to develop pop-up legal clinics in rural communities that have limited access to immigration attorneys and have experienced dramatic increases in immigration apprehension and detention.
• Lead the Binger Center’s Immigration Law Field Placement course and identify opportunities for law student experiential learning opportunities in the area of immigration law and policy.

Lead and Oversee Operations for the Center - 20%

• Serve as the primary liaison for the Center with Clinic and Law School Leadership, as well as with the University of Minnesota and the greater community.
• Oversee operations for the Binger Center, including coordinating adjunct faculty, graduate and undergrad interns, and student and community volunteers.
• Maintain the Binger Center’s discretionary budget and set budget priorities in consultation with Clinic and Law School leadership.
• Develop and implement internal procedures for planning, outcome tracking, and communication, including leading planning sessions and community needs assessments with external partners.

Lead and Oversee Communications for the Center - 10%

• Develop and lead the Center’s communication's plan, including public messaging and media outreach on an ongoing and as-needed basis.
• Implement the Binger Center’s media strategy in collaboration with the Law School’s Communications Department and Clinic Leadership, including the annual report and ongoing messaging.

Qualifications

Required

• BA/BS with at least 6 years of experience in community-driven work
• Demonstrated understanding of U.S. immigration law and policy
• Experience and skills in advocacy, activism, or community-driven work that aligns with the core values of the Binger Center
• Demonstrated commitment to building and sustaining relationships
• Capacity to effectively communicate, work collaboratively, directly supervise, and engage with staff and stakeholders at all levels
• Excellent interpersonal, cross-cultural, and public communication skills; leadership, problem-solving, and consensus-building capacity; professional judgment and discretion

Preferred

• J.D. from an A.B.A. accredited law school or other advanced professional degree with at least 4 years of professional experience dedicated to immigration-related community education and outreach, or a bachelors or higher degree with at least 8 years of professional experience dedicated to immigration-related community education and outreach
• Nonprofit or higher education leadership experience

To apply, go to https://humanresources.umn.edu/jobs and reference job number 347632. This position is open until filled. Candidates, including people of color and women, are strongly encouraged to apply. Applications will only be accepted through the University of Minnesota online employment system and only complete applications will be considered. A complete application consists of a resume, cover letter, contact information for three references who will not be contacted without prior notice, and a diversity statement.

Clinical Fellow Opening at Duke Law Immigrant Rights Clinic

Duke Law seeks to fill a Clinical Fellow position in its Immigrant Rights Clinic beginning in August 2022. The Clinical Fellow will work closely with the two faculty in the Immigrant Rights Clinic—its Director and Supervising Attorney/Clinical Professor of Law (Teaching). The Fellow will help supervise student casework and participate in the planning and teaching of the Clinic seminar. They will also assist in supporting the events and pro bono projects organized by the Duke Immigrant & Refugee Project (DIRP), including emergency response programs, and community resource development. The Clinical Fellow will also work closely with faculty and staff in the Clinic and DIRP’s student leaders to identify new projects and expand existing programs. The individual selected for the position will receive mentorship in teaching, scholarship, and immigrant rights lawyering and will have an opportunity to work with other faculty members throughout the law school.

The term of appointment is for two years with the possibility of an extension for a third year. Applicants must apply through AcademicJobsOnline.org (position 21470) (https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/21470 ) no later than April 29. Please also send a copy of all application materials to Lauren Maxey at lauren.maxey@law.duke.edu. Applications are considered on a rolling basis so early application is encouraged.

Rutgers Immigrant Rights Clinic seeks Detention Fellow

The Immigrant Rights Clinic at Rutgers Law School in Newark, New Jersey (IRC), is seeking to hire recent law graduates for full-time positions in its Detention & Deportation Defense Initiative (DDDI) project, to start in the summer or early fall of 2022. The initial appointment is for one year, but we expect the position to be renewed for a second year, contingent on continued funding. The DDDI Fellow will work with Professor Anju Gupta, Director of the IRC, Managing Attorney Leena Khandwala, and staff attorneys in the DDDI project. The DDDI team is also supported by a full-time paralegal, devoted exclusively to this project.

In 2018, the state of New Jersey committed funds to establish a pilot project aimed at providing pro bono legal representation to detained immigrants in the state. The IRC is one of four partners in this exciting and innovative project. Since 2018, the funding and capacity of the DDDI project has expanded greatly, allowing us to move closer to our goal of ensuring legal representation for all low-income New Jersey immigrants in detained and non-detained removal proceedings. The DDDI Fellow will represent detained immigrants as well as those immigrants who have been recently released from detention and/or are vulnerable to being detained, in their proceedings before the Elizabeth, Newark, and other Immigration Courts; the Board of Immigration Appeals; the federal District Courts; and the federal Courts of Appeals, as appropriate. The DDDI Fellow will also coordinate clinical and nonclinical law students representing these individuals or providing assistance the project. Additionally, the DDDI Fellow will assist with maintaining data about DDDI Project outcomes and statistics for grant reports and other reporting purposes and may also participate in policy and advocacy around issues pertaining to our clients and constituents.

Position requirements:

• A law degree;
• Membership in a bar of any state or plans to become a member of a state bar shortly after commencement of the position;
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team;
• Strong written and oral communication skills; and
• Demonstrated commitment to immigration law, including familiarity with immigration law and procedures, and/or experience representing immigrants (including, but not limited to, law school clinical experience).

Preferred Qualifications:

• NJ bar membership is a plus, though not required; and
• Fluency in another language, particularly Spanish, is a plus, though not required.

This is a full time, year-round position. The initial appointment is one year, but we expect the position to be renewed for a second year, contingent on continued funding. The salary is $55,000/year plus excellent benefits through Rutgers University. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, but interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume no later than March 15, 2022. The cover letter should address all of the position requirements listed above. To apply, please go to https://jobs.rutgers.edu/postings/155225 or click here.

Cornell hiring postdocs in immigration

Cornell Law School is seeking to hire 1-2 Postdoctoral Associates to collaborate with and contribute to Professor Stephen Yale-Loehr’s foundation-funded research on various immigration law and policy issues, including but not limited to:

• Private refugee sponsorship.
• How to legalize the estimated 10 million undocumented immigrants.
• Possible paths to permanent status for immigrants who are currently in tenuous immigration statuses like DACA and temporary protected status.
• The economic, sociological, and educational outcomes of immigrants and refugees under recent changes.
• The extent to which immigrants fail to use public benefits to which they are entitled.

The selected candidate(s) will conduct research on one or more of these key immigration issues, write reports and op-eds, and coordinate conferences on the findings and recommendations. The selected candidate(s) may also assist on research and analysis of other immigration policy issues through the Law School’s Migration and Human Rights Center and Cornell’s Migration Global Grand Challenge 

Qualifications:

Applicants must have a relevant Ph.D. and/or a law degree (J.D.) completed by June 2022. The ideal candidate will have the following: 

• Strong research and writing skills.
• Superior analytical skills and an ability to write and speak clearly and persuasively.
• Self-motivation with the ability to take the initiative and follow through on projects to completion.
• Ability to work independently and with others.
• A demonstrated commitment to immigration law. 

Cornell University embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We strongly encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply. 

Compensation/Benefits/Term:

This is a full-time position for a period of one-year starting in summer 2022, and is benefits-eligible. Reappointment for an additional one-year term is possible, based on performance and funding availability. 

The selected candidate(s) will receive an annual salary of $57,500. 

The position may be conducted either in-person at the Law School in Ithaca, NY or remotely at a location of choice in the United States. Please note that the New York Convenience of employer guidelines require New York State individual tax reporting and withholdings for the position if the work is conducted outside of NYS. Additional individual state income tax filings may also be required if working outside NYS. 

To Apply:

Interested applicants should submit a CV, detailed cover letter, the names of and contact information for three references, and one or more writing samples to https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/21049. The cover letter should include: your interest in this position and Professor Yale-Loehr’s research and how it fits with your career objectives; your organizational skills and experience with research projects; and an example of how you have taken initiative to solve a work-related research problem.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with priority given to early applicants. 

Questions may be referred to Liz Flint (liz.flint@cornell.edu). 

Summer 2022 Immigration Internships for Law Students [UPDATED]

The start of spring semester means job searching for law students and graduates. Here are some legal internships posted on the immprof-list serve. Please additional listings in comments.

Summer Positions

The Valerie Zukin Memorial Fellowship was established in September 2021 to honor Valerie Anne Zukin by advancing the development of more fierce and compassionate immigration lawyers like her. Applications are now being accepted for the inaugural two summer fellows, who will be housed at Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) in Tacoma, WA and Immigrant Legal Defense (ILD) in Oakland, CA. All positions are currently remote. 

The postings are on idealist.org: here (ILD) and here (NWIRP). There is a PDF of the combined announcement attached. Kindly share widely, especially with law students or colleagues at law schools that do not offer summer public interest funding. The 10-week summer fellowships will pay $15,000 each. If you would like to consider a donation to honor Valerie, or just to learn more about her incredible spirit and legacy, please visit: bit.ly/ValerieZukinMemorialFellowship

 

The National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild is accepting applications for summer internships (h/t Michelle Mendez)

Legal interns are exposed to a wide range of legal research and writing projects, including amicus briefs, pleadings in affirmative lawsuits, client declarations, practice advisories, legislative analysis, legal memoranda, advocacy letters, FOIA requests, and comments on proposed immigration regulations. Interns also assist with the National Immigration Project's outreach and advocacy work. The National Immigration Project seeks candidates who can demonstrate a commitment to immigrants' rights. Preference is given to those law students who have taken an immigration law class or have prior experience working on immigrants' rights issues. Students with law school clinical experience are encouraged to apply. We also encourage applications from people with personal experience of the immigration enforcement system, immigrants, women, people of color, persons with disabilities, persons with diverse gender and sexual identities, and formerly incarcerated people. The internship is remote. Interns are expected to work full-time for a duration of 10 weeks. A small stipend may be available for applicants who do not have funding or are not receiving academic credit. Please note your availability and funding situation in your cover letter.

Interested candidates may apply by submitting PDFs of a cover letter, resume, list of references, and a writing sample of no longer than 5 pages by email to internships@nipnlg.org. Applicants are encouraged to submit applications early in order to be considered for an internship position.

 

The American Immigration Council and New American Economy (merged) is hiring two interns for summer 2022, a legal intern and a policy intern. (H/t Kate Melloy Goettel at AIC)

Policy Internship - Summer 2022 | American Immigration Council

Legal Internship - Summer 2022 | American Immigration Council

 

The Center for Gender & Refugee Studies is currently hiring a cohort of summer 2022 law clerks. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. (H/T Blaine Bookey at CGRS)

Law clerk position listing

 

The Center for Immigration Law and Policy at UCLA School of Law is looking for two law students to work with us this summer. (H/T Ahilan Arulananthan)

Law Student Position Listing

 

Applications for the 2022 UC Berkeley Human Rights Center Summer Fellowship now open. Learn more & access application: https://humanrights.berkeley.edu/students/fellowship/apply. If you have questions about UC Berkeley's process or need contacts at other campuses, please contact Alexey Berlind at hrcfellowships@berkeley.edu

 

Permanent Positions

Just Futures Law (JFL) is hiring a full-time, remote Senior Staff Attorney with litigation expertise! This attorney will engage in litigation and advocacy to combat tech policing deployed against immigrant communities, defend the First Amendment rights of immigrants, and challenge immigration enforcement.  Just Futures Law, Inc. (JFL) is a womxn-of-color-led movement law project that defends and builds the power of immigrant rights and criminal justice activists, organizers, and community groups to prevent the criminalization, detention, and deportation of immigrants and people of color in the United States, JFL’s work is virtual and a staff of 5 works remotely in D.C., MA, NC, and NY. All positions are remote within the U.S.

To learn more and apply to join our team, click here. 

 

NIJC is offering two 2-year funded fellowships. The selected fellows will provide legal representation to immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers.  The fellowships will begin in September 2022. To apply, see  https://immigrantjustice.org/schreiber-fellowships-fall-2022.

 The specific work of the fellows will be determined based on the interests of candidates and NIJC’s needs. One fellow will work with NIJC’s asylum project and immigrant children’s project. A second position will provide legal services responding to emerging issues that NIJC identifies. For example, the emerging-issues fellow might be called on to work with individuals detained at the border, or individuals who may become eligible for immigration status based on changes in immigration laws and/or policy. Both fellowships will begin immediately following Labor Day in September 2022, and they will last until the end of August 2024. Applications for the fellowship are due on or before February 28, 2022, and applicants are encouraged to submit their applications in advance of the deadline. Fellows will be based in NIJC’s Chicago or Indiana offices and/or in a hybrid-remote arrangement depending on the status of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the end of the fellowship, fellows will be eligible to seek permanent employment with NIJC if there are pending positions, and will receive strong consideration for any open position at NIJC. The fellowship is open to current 3Ls and attorneys who have graduated within the last three years. To apply, see https://immigrantjustice.org/schreiber-fellowships-fall-2022

 

Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) is hiring for several positions with our program to provide legal services to unaccompanied children at the Office of Refugee Resettlement’s Ft. Bliss Emergency Intake Site in El Paso, Texas. All positions are based in El Paso and include Managing Attorney, Staff Attorney, and Social Services Coordinator and Program Coordinator. Postings and application instructions are listed on KIND’s job page here:  https://supportkind.org/join-the-team/jobs/.

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services is hiring law clerks and recent or soon-to-be-gradated law school alum to serve as entry-level attorneys in multiple locations nationwide. Policy analyst positions also available. (H/T Steve Bell, Steve Legomsky)

USCIS Entry-Level Attorney Listing

USCIS USA Jobs listings

 

MHC

Job Announcement: Immigration Clinic Director (Tenure Track Position) - Univ. of Arkansas (Fayetteville)

Immigration Clinic Director (Tenure Track Position) - Univ. of Arkansas (Fayetteville)

The University of Arkansas School of Law (Fayetteville) invites applications from both entry-level and lateral candidates for a tenure track teaching position. The law school is focused on hiring an individual to direct our existing and successful Immigration Clinic. This is a nine-month position and would begin in Summer 2022. 

In furtherance of the law school’s fundamental commitment to experiential learning and equity, clinical professors have full tenure rights and equal voting privileges on all issues. They also have equal access to support for their scholarship, including research assistance and research grants.   

All applicants for the position should ideally have meaningful practice experience in immigration or asylum law and some familiarity with supervising law students or new attorneys. Additionally, candidates should ideally have demonstrated scholarly promise, strong teaching or mentorship skills, a distinguished academic record, and a commitment to service within the law school, university, and broader community. Any successful applicant will be expected to gain admission to the Arkansas bar.

The University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, located in the northwest corner of the state, is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas. U.S. News & World Report has consistently ranked the city of Fayetteville as one of the “top five” places to live in America. The region is welcoming, forward-thinking, and full of opportunities for outdoor recreation. The University of Arkansas School of Law is committed to attracting a diverse workforce and is proud to be an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution. We welcome applications without regard to age, race/color, gender, pregnancy, national origin, disability, religion, marital or parental status, protected veteran status, military service, genetic information, sexual orientation or gender identity. Persons must have proof of legal authority to work in the United States on the first day of employment. All applicant information is subject to public disclosure under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act. Questions and applications should be directed to Steve Clowney, Chair of the Faculty Appointments Committee, at sclowney@uark.edu.

Potential candidates can learn more about our clinical program by reviewing our most recent annual newsletters:

• 2021
• 2020
• 2019

Student writing competition on refugee law

The 8^th Annual International Refugee Law Student Writing Competition is seeking papers addressing any topic related to international law and refugees, stateless persons, internally displaced persons, and/or forced migrants. 

The Annual International Refugee Law Student Writing Competition is sponsored by the American Society of International Law (through its International Refugee Law Interest Group); along with the Global Migration Centre, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies Geneva; the International Law Students Association; the International Journal of Refugee Law, and Oxford University Press.

The deadline for submissions is 15 January 2022.

For more information, contact Ian Kysel & Alice Farmer (co-chairs, ASIL International Refugee Law Interest Group)

MHC

NILC Law Fellowship

The National Immigration Law Center has established a two-year NILC Law Fellowship. It is  accepting applications for our first NILC Law Fellow, to begin a fellowship term from Fall 2022-Fall 2024.   Additional information and a link to apply are available here, and the application deadline is January 7, 2022. 

MHC (h/t Lisa Graybill)

Dissertation Grants on Immigration and Immigrant Integration

The Russell Sage Foundation is pleased to announce a dissertation research grants (DRG) program to support innovative and high-quality dissertation research projects that address questions relevant to RSF's priority areas: Behavioral Science and Decision Making in Context; Future of Work ; Race, Ethnicity and Immigration; Immigration and Immigrant Integration; and Social, Political, and Economic Inequality. Proposed projects must be closely aligned with the funding priorities listed on the RSF website for any of these areas, contribute to RSF's mission to improve social and living conditions in the U.S., and demonstrate appropriate use of relevant theory, innovative data, rigorous research methods, and measures. The application period is January 18-February 1, 2021.

Read the full description of the dissertation research grants program, including information on how to apply.

Post-Graduate Fellowship: Diversity Fellowships with the Federal Defender

The Federal Defender Services has announced a Diversity Fellowship for the next generation of public defenders. Defense work in the federal defender system is especially important for immigrant rights given the impact of criminal convictions on noncitizens, and the federal government's role in prosecuting immigration crime.

The Diversity Fellowship is for two years and designed to train new attorneys in criminal defense and representation.

For more information and a list of offices participating in the program, see https://diversityfellowship.fd.org/frontpage.

IE

Summer Opportunity for Rising 2Ls, 3Ls w/Young Center (Jan. 7 app deadline)

Elizabeth Frankel Fellowship at the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights

 

Application deadline: January 7, 2022.

 

About the Young Center.

The Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights is a national organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the rights and best interests—safety and well-being—of immigrant children in the United States. Through the Young Center’s Child Advocate Program, staff and volunteers work to serve as Child Advocate for unaccompanied and separated immigrant children pursuant to the 2008 Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act and the 2013 Violence Against Women Act. Our role is to identify and advocate for the best interests of immigrant children, both while they are in federal custody and after they are released, applying federal and state laws and long-recognized principles of the best interests of the child. The Young Center also engages in policy work, advocating with legislators, federal agencies, and other stakeholders to promote consideration of the best interests of the child in all decisions concerning immigrant children and to create a dedicated juvenile immigrant justice system that treats children as children. The Young Center has offices in Chicago, Harlingen, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix, San Antonio, and Washington DC.

 

About Elizabeth M. Frankel.

Elizabeth M. Frankel (1977-2021) was the first Associate Director of the Young Center. She joined the Young Center in late 2009, as just the third full-time employee, becoming part of a trio of attorneys in Chicago who would develop and implement an entirely new model for advocating for the rights of immigrant children and youth. Today the Young Center has eight offices across the country with more than 80 staff; Liz was involved in the creation and development of each and every office. From 2009 to 2015, Liz taught in the Immigrant Child Advocacy Clinic at the University of Chicago Law School. She loved mentoring law students and seeing them use their skills to take pro bono cases or jobs in public interest law.

 

About the Elizabeth Frankel Fellowship Program.

The Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights announces the first annual Elizabeth Frankel Fellowship for the 2022 summer. The intent of this Fellowship Program is to honor Liz’s passion for supporting law students as they learn to advocate effectively for immigrant children and families. The Fellowship Program will enable fellows to spend 10 weeks training to zealously advocate for children, and to carry on Liz’s vision of honoring the child’s wishes through careful, strategic advocacy. The Fellows will serve as Child Advocates for individual children, and will also conduct legal research and writing, under the guidance of Young Center staff within the Child Advocate Program. The Fellows will also engage in policy advocacy through ongoing initiatives at the Young Center under the supervision of the Policy Program. Fellows will be based in New York City and will be invited to spend one week of the Fellowship Program in the Young Center’s Harlingen office to understand how immigration patterns, enforcement, and advocacyplay out on the ground along the U.S.-Mexico border. The Elizabeth Frankel Advisory Committee, comprised of Liz’s family, friends, colleagues, and Young Center staff, advises the Young Center regarding the operation of the Fellowship Program.

 

Fellows will receive a stipend of $10,000 for 10 weeks (40 hours a week). The Fellowship Program will run from June to August 2022, with some flexibility as to individual start and end dates.

 

The program is open to law students who are rising 2L’s or 3L’s. Preferred qualifications: lived experience/knowledge that lends insight into supporting immigrant children and their families, and bilingual in Spanish and English (oral and written). Additional consideration will be given to law students who come from backgrounds/circumstances which prevent them from engaging in pro bono work during the summer.

 

Application and Selection Procedures

Interested students should email the following materials to EFrankelFellowship@theyoungcenter.org:

• Cover letter
• Resume
• Personal statement (2 pages maximum) about the applicant’s relevant experience, interest, and
• future aspirations with respect to legal work with immigrants and children.
• Contact information for three references.

 

The final deadline to submit application materials is January 7, 2022.

 

Materials will be reviewed by the Fellowship Committee, and interviews with Young Center staff will take place in mid to late January 2022. The Young Center anticipates making offers to potential fellows in late January/early February 2022.

 

If you have any questions, please contact Priscilla Monico Marin (PMonicoMarin@theyoungcenter.org).

 

-KitJ